Omaha Christian Academy (OCA) is a member of the Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA). We compete in Classes C and D1, and we are in the Frontier Conference. Student participation is subject to certain rules outlined by the NSAA.
OCA sets scholastic eligibility rules. If a student's grade (in one class) drops below 75%, he or she is considered on probation for the following week. If the grade is not brought up in one week, the student is ineligible and is not allowed to participate in the sport. The eligibility rules are the same for both Middle School and High School.
OCA has a variety of sports teams for both boys and girls. Boys sports teams include football, basketball (varsity and junior varsity), soccer, and track, while girls teams include cheerleading, volleyball (varsity and junior varsity), basketball (varsity and junior varsity), soccer, and track. Any student can participate in a sport, and the only teams requiring try-outs are the varsity teams.
OCA offers the same sports options for Middle School students as it does for High School students, although there is no cheerleading. Soccer is coed and its teams compete in the YMCA program.
Winter basketball teams and spring soccer teams are formed with OCA students if there is enough interest. The elementary sports teams compete in the YMCA program.
Schedules (in PDF format) are available here for boys basketball and girls basketball.
OCA's Music Department has produced 37 Nebraska All-State students over the past 16 years! Since 1995, there have been 24 Nebraska All-State Chorus and 13 Nebraska All-State Band and Orchestra students!
Students learn to play recorders in the 3rd and 4th Grades. Students can choose to play a band instrument in the 5th Grade. Private lessons are offered at school for piano and band instruments. Instruments are available to rent from OCA for a nominal fee.
Students can begin or continue to play an instrument in the 6th through 8th Grades. Middle School band meets two or three times per week. Performances include a Christmas Concert, Spring Concert, Spring Contest, and Chapel. Students may choose to perform a solo or in an ensemble. The band enjoys a trip to Adventureland every spring. Middle School students are encouraged to participate in Pep Band. Instruments are available to rent from OCA for a nominal fee.
High School Band meets two or three times per week. Performances include a Christmas Concert, Spring Concert, District Music Contest, and at three or four local churches throughout the year. Students look forward to a four day trip to Chicago or Colorado every other year, experiencing two band tours during their high school years. These trips include performances, ministries, and recreation. Students can choose to prepare solos or ensembles for contest. Students are encouraged to participate in Pep Band.
Pep Band performs rousing music at home football and basketball games and is available for all 6th through 12th Grade instrumental students.
The Senior High Choir is a group of Senior High age young people who choose to be in the choir. The choir usually numbers somewhere in the low 40s each year. The purpose of the choir is to develop the students' vocal skills to honor the Lord. Inside the choir room are the words "Soli Deo Gloria," which means "To God alone be the glory." This is the overriding goal and purpose for the choir. As each student becomes more proficient in singing, the whole group becomes better. This is seen in the number of 1+ ratings they have received at District Contest. The choir performs at two major concerts during the school year: the "Carols of Christmas" Concert and the Spring Concert. They are also involved in various music festivals, District Music Contest and Graduation. The choir is under the direction of Mr. Larry Nilius.
The Omaha Christian Ensemble is a select group of Senior High singers selected by audition from the Omaha Christian Academy Senior High Choir. There are approximately 16 to 18 singers in ensemble each year. The ensemble does not meet during a structured class time during the school day but must meet outside of school time to rehearse. Being a select group, the ensemble has the opportunity to perform in many different venues to include churches, malls, assisted living homes, and school concerts. The ensemble has received many accolades to include always receiving a 1 rating at every District Contest and receiving a 1 rating and the First Place Trophy in their classification both times that they have performed at the "Worlds of Fun" Music Festival. They have performed two separate times in Washington DC and have also performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The ensemble is under the direction of Mr. Larry Nilius.
Omaha Christian Academy offers beginning and advanced courses in speech, acting and production. OCA Drama classes have been chosen to air a pilot for a local TV station called Teens-4-Truth. It involves interviews with Christian bands, groups, and other Christian school talk groups. Drama is a project oriented class where students participate in both class C2 one-act play production contests and perform a play for the OCA community in the Spring. The spring melodrama, performed every other year, is among the most treasured memories of OCA drama students. Drama students routinely participate in state competitions that include duet acting, humorous interpretation, entertainment speaking, and interpretation of poetry. OCA drama students have been Frontier Conference Play Production Champions four out of the last six years!
OCA art students participate in Frontier Conference Annual Art Exhibits and in ACSI, K-8th Grade, Arts Activities Competitions annually receiving many Gold Awards. OCA offers Middle School Exploratory Art, 6th – 8th Grade, and four levels of High School Art that incorporate the use of wood, clay, metal, painting, drawing, and wall graphics. Seniors do a school beautification project during their Senior year. God’s purpose for Art is to use art to glorify Him and edify others. Art is an elective and fulfills the one elective requirement to graduate from OCA.
Omaha Christian Academy Quiz Bowl is an academic team that competes throughout the school year in and around the Omaha area. Ninth through 12th graders compete on novice and advanced teams with other schools of all classes and sizes. This premier academic opportunity allows OCA students to be involved in a team activity that challenges the brain. Several universities sponsor competitions that offer small scholarships to top performing teams. The OCA Quiz Bowl has earned numerous awards, i.e. Nebraska State Champions, two-time Nebraska Frontier Conference Champions, and five-time 1st place trophies at high school and college sponsored competitions throughout the past eight years!
OCA students lead praise music once a week for both high school and middle school chapel. Instruments include percussion, bass guitar, lead and rhythm guitars, keyboard, and vocals. Teams rehearse during the school day, and can be responsible for one or more chapels per month. The OCA Worship Team has various opportunities throughout the year to lead praise music with other schools and ministries.