New Eden Academy International, the first high school founded in North America by our True Parents, welcomed its inaugural class of 44 students to Bridgeport, Connecticut on Sept. 22 this year. Students from all over America and the world are pursuing academically challenging high school studies in a spiritually enriched atmosphere-truly, a garden of learning and joy.

Students are sons and daughters of members of the Unification community. Most parents have served and followed True Parents faithfully and many are now in mission countries pursuing Tribal Messiah work. Headmaster Dr. Hugh D. Spurgin comments: "The spiritual and leadership qualities of the parents are evident in this group of students, who are not only academically talented, but spiritually bright and very responsible."

Toshiko Sato, the Residential Life Coordinator, currently lives with the students and guides their spiritual lives. "I really enjoy taking care of these children, especially cooking noodles and rice for evening snack. They are truly God’s precious children and the beautiful fruit of their parents’ prayers and love."

Daily Schedule

Students take turns giving morning service at 7:00 am, having attended morning exercises beforehand. Breakfast at Marina Dining Hall, located across from the dormitory, is served from 7:30-8:20. Classes begin at 8:30. A typical daily academic schedule is as follows, Monday through Friday:

8:30 - 9:30 U.S. or World History

9:30 - 10:30 Religious Education

10:30 - 11:30 Geophysical Science or Algebra I

11:30 - 12:00 Lunch

12:00 - 1:00 English

1:00 - 2:00 Korean Language

2:00 - 3:00 Computer Science

3:00 - 4:00 Integrated Math I

4:00 - 5:00 Sports/Martial Arts or Music Lessons

5:30 - 6:20 Dinner

6:30 - 8:30 Supervised study or evening classesEvening classes include Chemistry, Independent Studies, tutoring, Advanced Math and Computer Science and Ceramics. Saturday morning schedule includes Chorus, Martial Arts and weekend recreational activities. Students have visited local parks, shopping and museums.

Located on the campus of the University of Bridgeport, New Eden Academy students utilize resources such as the University library, classrooms, recreational facilities and dining hall. Three academically advanced students are already enrolled in a college Chemistry class. New Eden is working with the University’s High School Partnership Program, which allows qualified students to take up to eight U.B. classes before graduation. New Eden students may also take classes at the local Community College, as well as advanced placement exams, to earn college credit before graduation.

The brand-new Academic Computing Center has twelve state of the art computers available for student use during supervised study period in the evenings, and during daytime study halls. New Eden students access the Internet over a lightning-fast ISDN connection. Students are developing their own sites and are expanding the New Eden website. After completing an introductory computer course, all students will be able to create professional reports, publish on-line, manipulate spreadsheets and manage databases. Instructor J. Reid White, the Director of Mathematics and Computer Science, comments: "The combination of the software, the motivation, and the opportunity for instruction produces excellence in the creative work of these students."

The Korean language and cultural program is an important feature of the core curriculum. Mrs. Eun Bok Yoon, the Korean Studies Director, creates an atmosphere of Korean culture in her classroom. She invites students to learn about Korean cooking, lifestyle and history. The advanced class is already translating some Korean books about True Father’s early life. This program helps to realize our True Parents’ dream of educating the second generation in their native tongue.

The Physical Education and Martial Arts Program is directed by Mr. Sang Chi Hu. Students pursue the martial arts as a method of self-defense or as an intense course of physical and spiritual training. Instructors are available evenings and Saturdays for extra practice. Students also enjoy swimming, jogging in Seaside Park, walking on the nearby beach, soccer, volleyball, basketball and skateboarding.

In Religious Education class, students are studying the Divine principle and creating special projects such as a Divine Principle Trivia Game for Families, coloring books and storybooks for children, "Dear Noona" advice book for young girls, and other education-related products. In this way, students learn the Principle and explore its creative applications. Students learn by journal-writing and by studying the Family Pledge as well as the three speeches recently given by True Parents. Mrs. Josephine Hauer, the religious education teacher, believes: "Religious education must be creative, intellectually broadening and very applicable to their real lives."

New Eden students had the opportunity to learn about how a CD-ROM is created first hand when Acumedia asked for actors and actresses for a multi-media project for the Korean public school system. Sixteen students participated in the filming and five students helped on the production crew. Students involved in Chorus, under the direction of Dr. Atsuko Ezaki, are preparing to offer musical selections at upcoming holiday performances and celebrations.

New Eden Academy seeks to develop and maintain a unique library and welcomes your donations of young adult literature (paperback books okay), encyclopedias, textbooks, Unification Church literature, books, speeches or other memorabilia which the next generation might find interesting. Let’s preserve our history to bequeath the significance of our True Parents’ work in America to the next generation. Volunteers are needed to coordinate and collect donations. Please contact Mrs. Hauer at 203-334-3434 or e-mail at josie.hauer@snet.net.

The New Eden Academy Parents Association was founded on Sept. 22 in response to parents’ desire to be involved with the development of this important project. Mr. Russ Allen was elected president of the Association.

Please consider making a financial contribution to New Eden Academy’s scholarship fund to enable more students to enroll next year. Families or businesses located in a specific region could establish a special fund for qualified applicants from your area. The cost of educating one student in our boarding school far exceeds the amount that a typical family is able to pay. The New Eden Academic Foundation has been generous in providing financial aid to students, but more scholarship moneys are needed. Contributions of money or goods are tax-deductible. Contact Mr. Robert Schwartz with your pledge of support.

For admissions information, please contact Dr. Spurgin or Mrs. Hauer at (203)334-3434 or fax (203)334-8651. Grades 9, 10 and 11 will be offered for the 1998-99 school year. Financial aid is available based on academic promise and financial need.

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