Frequently Asked Questions About Dublin Christian Academy

DCA offers four varsity sports: guys’ soccer and girls’ volleyball in the fall, and guys’ and girls’ basketball in the winter. We also offer junior varsity volleyball and soccer for students in grades 5-9. With approval from our principal, students may be able to participate in sports DCA does not offer through other programs. In these cases, students may be permitted to leave school early for games but will not be allowed to leave school early for practices. We also offer a winter Ski and Ride program for students in third through twelfth grade.

In addition to our sports program, we offer a variety of special interest clubs including Missions, Creative Writing, Art, Drama, and Yearbook. We have student government in upper school. All students at DCA participate in choir and drama, and we have two plays each year – one for junior high and one for high school. We also have several service opportunities and students have opportunities to participate in a variety of trips.

All students at DCA participate in choir and speech. Our lower school and junior high grades have structured art classes each week as one of their specials. We produce a junior high play in the winter and a senior high play in the spring. Students perform in our Christmas Vespers program and spring concert. Our Upper School students also participate in the New England Association of Christian Schools Contest which is a multi‑category contest for students from participating schools in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. This competition is designed to help students discover and develop their talents in academic, artistic, musical, biblical, and public speaking areas.

DCA believes that relationships are the foundation of discipleship. We seek to nurture strong relationships with faculty, staff, and peers through intentional, consistent strategies that foster trust, belonging, and a sense of community. Our activities include get acquainted days, a big/little program, field trips, class and ministry trips, school spirit days, Harvest Fest, an annual service project and end-of-year activities such as a school picnic, field day, and fun night. Our Upper School students attend a Christmas banquet hosted and served by staff, a 3-day Winter Bible Conference, and the formal Junior-Senior Banquet near the end of the school year.

In addition, students in grades seven through twelve meet in small, staff-led GRO groups each week to foster guidance, responsibility, and openness. By creating and maintaining an environment of faith and trust, we encourage students to share their lives, celebrate victories, and navigate challenges they may be facing with the support of discipleship-minded mentors. GRO groups are a vital opportunity to build a supportive community where every student is seen, valued, challenged, and encouraged.

DCA bases its system of accountability and correction on the functions of Scripture taught in 2 Timothy 3:16: teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness. Part of our education program is holding students accountable in ways that lovingly instruct, warn, rebuke, restore, and help develop “complete” Christians fully equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:17). The spirit in which accountability is practiced is important to us. It is our desire that humility, gentleness, patience, and love—first for God and then for others—permeate all aspects of discipleship, including rebuke and correction (Galatians 6:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:14).

The tally system is a tool for the Lower School teacher, student, and parent to encourage the student to develop self-discipline and self-control as well as personal responsibility in the areas of behavior and academics. Biblical principles are the foundation of the tally system and hopefully encourage more Christ-like behavior in the students. The key to a successful discipline system is parent/teacher/administration cooperation and communication.

In Upper School, DCA takes a personal approach and works with each student based on that student’s heart response to correction. DCA utilizes the Student Life Council (SLC) as a means to handle any student discipline issues. The SLC consists of several faculty and staff members that meet on a regular weekly basis.

DCA currently has three internship opportunities for eligible seniors: an education internship coordinated with the Intro to Education class, an office internship working within our Admissions office, and another that works with Operations and Tech support.