Frequently Asked Questions What are the 2008-09 tuition rates at North Hills? The tuition rates are as follows: Young 5's: $1,854 Kindergarten: $3,950 1st - 6th Grade: $5,600 7th - 8th Grade: $5,800 9th - 12th Grade: $5,995 These rates are some of the most competitive tuitions in the Grand Rapids area. It is very difficult to put a price on an education that gives its students a distinctive advantage over their peers in both the classroom as well as life itself. Financial assistance is available to families who qualify. What grade levels does North Hills include? North Hills offers Young 5's through 12th grade. Does North Hills offer a pre-school program? No, we do not offer a pre-school program, however we do offer Young 5's for students who turn four years old by the first day of school in September (the day after Labor Day). Does North Hills offer homeschool partnerships? Yes, we offer a homeschool partnership program in which students grades 3 - 12 may participate in any course offered by the school for a per class, per semester fee. What extra-curricular activities does North Hills provide? Our students have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of cooperative sports and extra-curricular activities with Potter's House and Tri-Unity schools, such as basketball, football, volleyball, soccer, drama, and more. Our current athletic offerings include cross-counrty, track and field, bowling, and golf teams for both boys and girls. Our clubs include ski/snowboarding, drama, yearbook, chess, hydroponic gardening, sketching, choir, crochet and card-making. We continually evaluate and expand our extra-curricular programs. Do North Hills students wear uniforms? Yes, students at North Hills wear school uniforms. Do students at North Hills have the opportunity to participate in physical education, music, and art classes? Yes, students participate in all three on a regular basis. Our art classes teach students artitistic techniques as well as art history and art appreciation. In music class, students are exposed to famous composers and their works, and they are taught music theory and choral singing. Physical education in K-6 focuses on basic skills, while 7-12 focuses on physical fitness and team building and culminates in a 10K run. Secondary students also participate in leadership excursions such as camping, rock climbing, orienteering, canoeing, and skiing once a month as part of their leadership training. What kind of curriculum does North Hills use? Our curriculum is carefully chosen. In the grammar school we are concerned about teaching reading through phonics. We use Saxon Math, which concentrates on math facts and repetition. We also use Shurley Grammar for our language arts program. We use original sources or writings by the peole we are studying whenever possible. For example, we read the Federalist Papers when studying early United States History. Our goal is to encourage conversations with the great ideas of Western Culture. Do the students of North Hills participate in field trips? Yes. Our 5th and 6th grade classes participate in a camping trip every year as well as visiting a retirement home twice a month. All grammar students take day trips to various places such as the Kent County Road Commission, Blanford Nature Center, and Frederick Meijer Gardens, as well as attending plays and concerts, etc. Our secondary students participate in quarterly service projects, two camping trips each year, and a leadership development activity day each month. What does a Christian education mean at North Hills? North Hills integrates faith and learning into every subject in an interdenominational context. We teach students to examine culture through a Christian worldview and with a critical eye. Our aim is to instill a love of God's truth, goodness, and beauty in each student in every aspect of their lives.   What training do North Hills teachers receive? North Hills teachers are well-trained in their field of expertise. They attend serious, Christian-classical education training on the average of fifteen days a year. Teachers and administration meet every week to discuss school issues, teaching techniques, Christian-classical standards, and student needs. Regular reading on the classical theory and subjects taught is required. How long has North Hills been in existence? The grammar school was founded in 1994, and the secondary school was added two years later.