The Lighthouse Christian Academy in Santa Monica CA

Electives

At the Lighthouse Christian Academy we view electives as opportunities for students to experience practical hands-on learning in subjects areas in which they show a particular personal interest or aptitude.  Our electives on typically project or product based, meaning we not only want students to study subjects of their choosing in an academic environment, but also to use these skills to create something of wider benefit to themselves, the school or the community.

In most schools, students often complain of a rift between what they learn in the classroom and the usefulness or applicability of that knowledge in real world settings.  We want students to take what they enjoy and see firsthand how that can be put to use in wider society.  Below is a brief overview of the electives we currently offer.

Journalism

Our journalism class publishes a monthly school and church newspaper that covers the events and personalities in our school, church, city, and world.  In addition to developing strong and coherent writing skills, journalism encourages students to take a watchful and engaged role in the world around.  Journalism students are also instructed in web publishing technologies such as online news sites, blogs, and podcasts.

Film

Our film class includes film appreciation as well as technical instruction in planning, writing, shooting, and editing digital videos.  Small class sizes allow each student hands on experience in producing their own videos from beginning to end.  Student videos are commonly used not only for school viewing but also for use at school or church functions, our school website, or local film festivals.  LCA alumni have gone on to attend collegiate film schools and to win prestigious honors at statewide festivals.

Theater Arts | Drama

Drama is offered as an extracurricular elective, meaning classes are usually held once a week in the evenings.  The class centers around two annual performances, one in the winter and one in the spring, which are held either at local theaters or at the church.  Participating students receive intensive instruction in voice, stage presence, improvisation, and dance choreography.

At the Lighthouse Christian Academy, students have the opportunity to participate in every extra-curricular drama and choir performance, if they have the talent and desire to succeed in these areas. It is a tradition for “The Lighthouse Players” to perform a Christmas Play at Pierson Playhouse in Pacific Palisades. Past performances include musical productions entitled The Real Jewel, The Christmas Cowboy, and Santa Cause. The Annual Spring Play and Dessert Night features short story style productions, monologues and vignettes. You can read more about our Theater Arts Program Here.

Spanish I/II/III

The LCA offers three levels of Spanish language instruction, in which students are taught to read, write, and converse in Spanish.  Students who have already attained notable proficiency in Spanish can pass immediately into higher levels where they will be challenged to fine-tune their literacy levels.  Spanish III is taught with the goal that students will be able to take the Advanced Placement Spanish exam.

Work Study

Work study gives students the opportunity to work at either the Lighthouse Elementary School located at 1220 20th St. or the Lighthouse World Charities Thrift Store located at 1727 Wilshire Blvd.  Work at the elementary school allows students to develop interpersonal communication and teaching skills while providing invaluable assisting to the elementary students and staff.  At the thrift store students will learn valuable retail and marketing skills while helping to raise funding for medical missions to Africa.  Both programs also provide useful volunteer experiences for job or collegiate applications and can be counted toward a student’s in-church community service hours.

Concurrent Enrollment

This program refers to the opportunity for LCA students to take courses at local community colleges in concert with those at the high school.  The vast majority of these courses are taken at Santa Monica College because of its convenient proximity to the LCA.  Classes taken concurrently provide students with both high school and college level credits.  The only restriction on eligible courses is that they be offered during the students free elective period, and to enroll students need to enroll in the class of their choice and bring proof of enrollment to the LCA office.  Students interested in concurrent enrollment should being exploring course lists several weeks before our Sept 9th start date in order to adjust for differing start dates and to find available classes.