Hillcrest Christian Academy has a long-standing reputation as a school that offers outstanding academics, a winning athletic program, and notable instruction in the Fine Arts, all taught through the lens of a Biblical worldview.  Now, we bring that level of excellence to grades 9-12, offering a complete education that prepares students for college and beyond.

Download the 8th-12th Grade Course Sequence here to see all the classes being offered.

INSTRUCTION BEGINS AND ENDS WITH THE WORD OF GOD.

Bible is the first course at the beginning of each day.  Students will delve deeper into the Word than they ever have before, and learn how to articulate and defend their faith as they grow into adulthood.

A REGULAR COURSE AT HILLCREST IS AN HONORS COURSE ELSEWHERE.

Just like courses within our middle school curriculum, our high school courses are taught at the Honors level.  Students who graduate from Hillcrest  will not just be "ready" for college--they will be ready to succeed, flourish and excel in college.

IT'S A DIGITAL WORLD. WE PREPARE STUDENTS TO LIVE IN IT.

Information Technology careers are growing at a phenomenal rate, and our students will have the skills it takes to compete. Computer classes, which include instruction in Microsoft Office Programs, Media Production and Computer Security, are core courses at Hillcrest throughout all grades.

 

 

PHYSICAL EDUCATION.  IT ISN'T ALL JUST FUN AND GAMES.

Phys. Ed. classes at Hillcrest take activity to a whole new level.  Students not only learn the fundamentals of several sports, they learn how their bodies respond to physical activity, and how to key into optimal heart rates to achieve better physical performance.  Physical Education isn’t about just how to play, but how to be a good steward of the body God has given us.  Students will graduate encouraged to pursue health for life.

GOT ART?  WE DO.

Our art program draws creativity out of the most uncreative students.  Our students use acrylics and canvasses, kilns and clay, photography and multimedia.  They learn art through not only through technique, but by studying it’s history and cultural differences as well.  Art is offered as an elective at the high-school level.

 

 

 

GUIDANCE KEEPS THEM ON THE RIGHT ROAD...FOR THEM.

Hillcrest Christian Academy keeps a certified guidance counselor on staff.  Students will be able to  accurately assess how their skills and abilities match with their interests and passions, and discern what God’s will for their career path might be.  At Hillcrest it isn’t enough just to educate young adults, we want to prepare them to live and work in a world of endless possibilities, and to have the confidence to pursue their dreams.

 

 

 

 

SAT PREP.  HOW TO THINK,  HOW TO REASON.  HOW TO WRITE.

Sophomores at Hillcrest will receive some of the best SAT Preparation available anywhere.  We don’t teach to the test, but we teach students how to test well.  Standardized test-taking tips are offered, practice tests are administered, and essay writing skills are taught.  We will take the fear and trepidation that usually accompanies taking the college entrance exam.  The differences between the SAT and ACT will also be discussed.

 

 

 

 

THE CULMINATING PROJECT.  APPLICATION.  CREATION.  CRITICAL THINKING.

Beginning with the 2014-2015 school year, Pennsylvania code will require the completion of a culminating project in one or more areas of concentrated study under the guidance and direction of faculty.  Hillcrest Christian Academy has already built this requirement into our curriculum.

 

 

 

In 2010, Hillcrest Christian Academy added 9th grade to its curriculum offerings, and this class will be the first Hillcrest High School Graduating Class in the year 2014.  Reproduced here are some of the articles from our monthly newsletter about the inaugural year of Hilcrest High School!  If you are interested in a complete high school education that offers the best academics within a Biblical worldview, call 412-854-4040 today!

SCIENCE CAMP RESULTS IN IMPORTANT WORK

The 9th graders were away for 3 days working really hard.  They did some amazing field work up north.  All of their work went to various agencies that needed information.  They did data reduction & plotting at night and of course had a bit of time left over for making s’mores in the lodge fireplace.  It was a vigorous 3 days.  They easily trekked 8 miles each day by foot on days 1 & 2 doing data collection.  The last day was less strenuous; digging, sifting, & cleaning artifacts; just a few miles on foot.

Here is a glimpse of their projects.

Day 1 – Botany studies & measurements for several tree species concerning age, health, population, location, and growth rates.  They were able to collect information on over 50 trees as they worked sun-up to sun-down.  At night they compared their data to recent research and had fantastic results.  The majority of their findings were right on target!  A curriculum is being developed by the work these ladies compiled.

Day 2 - They did extensive water quality analyses at 10 stream sites & 2 ponds.  (We were hoping to catch more sites, but the sun was setting!)  The information they gathered included 84 chemical assessments & macro-invertebrate life findings.  The collection sites were in remote areas only accessible by foot.  They climbed over & under the brush, slogged through mud, scampered up hills & down steep embankments in order to find good entry points to the water.  Their information will serve as baseline reference data when Marcellus Shale gas drilling begins.

Day 3 –Excavating at an 1838 registered historic site along the Venango Trail.  Pieces of dinner plates, tea cups, window panes, nails, vases, & cook pots were found.  The nicest artifact recovered was a hand-blown glass apothecary jar - perfectly intact!  The medicine bottle measured about 5 inches tall and 2 inches wide.  It was a real beauty!  The Butler County Archeologist will benefit from the work they did.

The director was very grateful for all 3 days of their work.  Well done 9^th grade HCA Biology students!

HCA NINTH GRADE "COURTS" THE LAW

On Tuesday, December 7th, the 9th grade civics class, under the supervision of Miss Rectenwald, visited the Allegheny County Courthouse downtown to observe trials in the Court of Common Pleas. The experience was very eye-opening for the girls, who had never experienced a real trial before.

They started the morning at Eat 'N Park for breakfast and rode the “T” downtown. At the courthouse they observed trials with Judge Jill Rangos, who oversees cases in the juvenile section of the family division in the Court of Common Pleas.  They found her very respectful to the people being placed on trial, taking time to see every point of view, and make the best and most informed decision.

“Seeing the trials was inspiring because it showed me what being a lawyer is really like", said one ninth grader. "It is nothing like what you see on television."

The girls also visited the office of the sheriff of Allegheny County and the Juvenile Department. To see young people in such trouble especially saddened our students and gave them something to think, and pray, about.

TRIP TO HUMAN ENGINEERING LAB AMAZES CLASS

Last month the 9th graders went to the Human Engineering Research Laboratories in Highland Park.  They were given an in-depth tour of the facility and all the patented technology created at the lab for those who suffer from physical disabilities.  It was a trip that will not soon be forgotten, as the day was filled with many amazing experiences:

• Students were able to meet & watch the designers in the prosthetics lab making custom-fit artificial limbs.
• They were shocked to learn that bed-sores are a serious problem that can lead to major infections, and they learned of new mattress technology on the horizon for thermal monitoring of skin integrity for those who are bed-ridden.  Similar technology is being used for wheelchair seat-pads.
• Next, students observed in-house “crash-test” simulators for wheelchair damage resistance & frame/joint strength.  In another room,  a simulator for wheelchairs on buses studied safe speeds & turn ratios so that wheelchairs could remain upright given the current seatbelt and anchoring systems available on public transportation.
• “WILMA” the robot showed students how she helps stroke victims navigate the difficulties of daily living by opening up bottles, pouring milk, or retrieving food items from kitchen cupboards.  WILMA would probably be considered the equivalent of a seeing-eye dog for a person who is blind.
• The next stop was a prototype of a living room which was controlled by heart rate & blood pressure.  If a person with a traumatic brain injury becomes over-stimulated and is unable to process their environment calmly, the windows begin to gently darken (like wearing sunglasses) & outside noise coming through the windows begins to be muffled or reduced.  The lights in the room will soften as well.  This will help the person slow their breathing & heart rate to minimize a difficult emotional episode.  These technologies will also greatly assist our brave Veterans suffering with PTSD.
• The tour ended with a young engineer who is determined to help disabled children have a better life. His products help kids reach their physical therapy goals while having fun!  He demonstrated a musical joystick on a motorized-wheelchair to help stimulate their minds.  If the child is higher functioning, he or she can create fantastic music from multi-scale notes of 120 musically programmed instruments.  This helps with limited range of motion exercises when the child has only the use his forearms & fingers.  (He also found that geriatric patients love it, too!)  His other inventions included ways to help children with disabilities brush their teeth thoroughly, grip a pencil, or a hold parent’s hand properly.  This was done with sensors & some really cool computer animation to engage the kids.

Needless to say, the students were wildly impressed & inspired by everything they saw and learned that day.