Student Life
Welcome to the Crusader Family!
GCA students have the opportunity to participate in many activities that are beneficial academically and socially. Field trips encourage curiosity and hands-on learning, music and art classes engage creative minds, and athletic teams promote healthy bodies.
We believe education is about more than preparing students for college—it’s about preparing them for life. Every student has unique gifts and callings, and our goal is to help them grow into confident, capable young adults ready for whatever path God has for them.
Through academics, service, athletics, fine arts, and real-world experiences, students develop practical skills like leadership, teamwork, and responsibility. By graduation, they are equipped not only for their next step, but for a lifetime of purpose, integrity, and impact.
Social Media
Through exciting lessons, students explore content creation, graphic design, and effective management of platforms like Instagram and Facebook. This hands-on approach empowers students to craft visually appealing content, develop compelling narratives, and enhance their creativity and critical thinking. The program also fosters responsible digital citizenship, teaching personal branding and the impact of online presence. Collaborative projects encourage teamwork and community, preparing students for future career opportunities and guiding them to use social media as a positive force for meaningful contributions.
Yearbook
This engaging course guides them through creating, designing, and publishing the school yearbook while learning essential skills in photography, graphic design, and storytelling. Through collaboration and teamwork, students hone their technical skills and foster a deep connection to their peers and the school community. Participating in the Yearbook class cultivates creativity, responsibility, and leadership as students take ownership of their work, manage deadlines, and contribute to a project that reflects their collective identity.
Industrial Arts
Student life is enriched by a diverse range of activities, including Industrial Arts (Shop Class), a hands-on program that equips students with essential skills increasingly rare in today’s educational landscape. Students engage in valuable experiences such as changing oil, changing tires, and mastering woodworking projects using tools like table saws and drill presses.
Driver Education
The Driver’s Ed program is integrated into the school day, equipping students with essential skills for safe driving. Covering traffic laws, defensive techniques, and safe habits, it fulfills Virginia’s Driver’s Ed requirements. Through engaging lessons and a hands-on behind-the-wheel program, students learn to navigate the roads confidently while emphasizing sound decision-making, cultivating skilled drivers ready for challenges ahead.
Student Council
.Upper School students at Gateway Christian Academy develop leadership grounded in biblical principles, learning to serve their peers with humility and integrity. They exemplify Christ in decision-making, teamwork, and community service, building a foundation for lifelong Christian leadership.
Technologically Driven
Traditional education offers a trusted approach, emphasizing teacher-led instruction that fosters strong student-teacher connections. Most work is completed using paper and pencil to enhance focus, while tablets and computers are deployed where appropriate to support digital learning and technological skills development.
STEM
Our STEM programs are thoughtfully integrated into the elementary curriculum to inspire a love for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics from a young age. Through hands-on activities, engaging experiments, and collaborative projects, students explore fundamental concepts while developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Our STEM initiatives encourage curiosity and creativity as students design their own experiments, build structures, and engage in coding and robotics.
Languages
We are dedicated to advancing our students’ education by teaching Spanish beginning in K4 and incorporating American Sign Language throughout elementary. By introducing these languages early on, we enhance communication skills and broaden their understanding of different cultures.
Professional Clubs
TPUSA (Turning Point USA) provides resources and support that empower Christian schools to promote values and encourage students to engage with their faith in civic life. TPFaith, an extension of TPUSA, equips Christian schools to foster biblical leadership and spiritual growth by integrating faith-based principles into cultural and political discussions.
Lunch Program
A well-balanced and nutritious lunch program supplied by our own ably-staffed kitchen is made available to our students and staff. Meals may be bought on a day-to-day basis using MySchoolAccount. A price list and menu is provided each year.
Field Trips
Throughout the academic year, diverse grade levels partake in enriching field trips, strategically integrated into the curriculum to elevate the learning experience. In preparation, advance notice of upcoming excursions will be communicated, necessitating a parental permission slip for student participation. To streamline the process, field trip fees will be conveniently included in monthly FACTS payments, upon receiving consent from parents or guardians. These well-coordinated outings contribute significantly to the students’ educational journey, providing practical and immersive opportunities to reinforce classroom teachings and foster a deeper understanding of the subjects explored.
Senior Class Trip
One of the most anticipated traditions at Gateway Christian Academy is the Senior Class Trip. Each year, our seniors take a week away from the classroom to embark on a life-changing adventure—funded through years of class fundraising and teamwork. In addition, our senior class generally takes an international trip as part of their curriculum. This trip provides a unique opportunity for bonding, cultural immersion, and reflection, and has been a beloved addition to the GCA experience in recent years. Past trips have included unforgettable cruises and mission work in Jamaica, while this year’s senior class will continue that legacy of impact as they travel to Costa Rica for a mission outreach.
The Senior Trip provides students with so much more than just memories. It opens their eyes to the richness of other cultures, broadens their perspective of the world, and gives them opportunities to grow in maturity, service, and leadership. Whether serving in local communities or experiencing international travel together, students return home with deeper friendships, a greater appreciation for life’s blessings, and experiences that shape their hearts and minds for years to come.
