Distinctives

Christ-Centered Culture

Christianity has been such an integral part of the history and development of western civilization that anything other than an education centered on the person of Jesus Christ fails at what it purports to be. Christ Classical School holds that all truth is God’s truth. We seek to integrate all subjects with historical Christianity and the teachings of the Scriptures in ways that are natural and not contrived. Our intent is to provide a clear model of the Christian life and a Biblical worldview through our staff, board, and volunteers so that every child is encouraged to develop a genuine and meaningful relationship with God through the person of Jesus Christ. Our goal is to foster the culture and environment of a Christian community that is inclusive. We are unapologetic in the assertion of doctrines which are central to orthodox Christianity, but students and faculty alike are welcome to their personal and denominational views on issues about which genuine believers disagree. This approach cultivates an appreciation for the views of others, while maintaining a confidence in one’s own views and those of one’s family and denomination.

Classical Methodology

Christ Classical School employs the classical approach of learning based upon the centuries-old trivium described in The Lost Tools of Learning by Dorothy L. Sayers. The grammar school (K-6) emphasizes basic learning skills, while the dialectic school (7-9) concentrates on formal instruction in logic. The rhetoric school (10-12) helps students develop a clear understanding of verbal, written, and mechanical aspects of expression used in each subject studied. The goal is to teach our students how to think as a basis for mastering specific subject areas. Intensive phonics and primary reading sources (including the Bible and classic works) are used for instruction in reading and the language arts. The school utilizes an incremental and cumulative approach to developing and retaining mathematics skills and teaches Latin, the language of scholars, for its direct benefits and as a reinforcement for understanding English grammar and vocabulary.

Curriculum

For young children, the educational goal at Christ Classical School is to develop mastery of the basic learning skills. In older students, critical thinking skills, together with competence in verbal and written methods of communication, are expected. To this end, Christ Classical emphasizes the following for each School stage of our educational model, the Trivium:

  • School of Grammar (K through 6th): language proficiency (reading, grammar, and spelling), handwriting, history, Bible, mathematics, and Latin. To supplement these important subjects are science, music, art, drama, and physical education.
  • School of Logic (7th through 9th): literature, history, and Bible, along with writing, mathematics, science, Latin, and formal logic. Supplemental courses are art, music, and physical education.
  • School of Rhetoric (10th through 12th): continued study of English language (with a strong emphasis on writing skills), literature, mathematics, science, Bible, history, and the formal study of rhetoric. Supplemental courses are art, music, and physical education.

In support of our classical curriculum structure, we have carefully selected what we believe to be the finest materials available for each skill and subject area at each level of instruction. Nonetheless, our curriculum and support materials are constantly under review and are modified and updated as necessary to meet our educational goals.

There is no better way of acquiring the tools of learning than the rigorous study of an inflected language. Latin, in particular, is the choice of Christ Classical and hundreds of other schools for a host of reasons.

  1. Latin is a dead language—no one speaks it—therefore, it is no longer changing with usage as all spoken languages do. This attribute of being frozen in time is the very thing that makes Latin the perfect language for students to dissect, translate into their language, dissect again, and retranslate. All this exercise with language creates in the student an understanding of the need for precision in language in particular and knowledge in general.
  2. By introducing a child to Latin as early as 3rd grade, we take educational advantage of a child’s great capacity for learning vocabulary and his love for the rhythmic chanting of verb conjugations and noun declensions. The exercise of fitting the number, case, and gender of a Latin word to its English translation strongly develops analytical skills as well as vocabulary.
  3. An understanding of the Latin language is quite useful for the full appreciation of classical literature because it is riddled with Latin expressions although written in another language. An understanding of Latin and its place in history helps develop in students a sense of humility concerning their language and history. Of course, the majority of the English language finds its root in Latin or Greek, and so a thorough working knowledge of Latin opens up for students a keen understanding and precision with the English language.
  4. On a practical level, it has become widely known in recent decades, and cited in numerous studies, that Latin students outperform students of other languages on the verbal and reading sections of standardized tests. In fact, on the SAT the score difference between Latin students and students who have had no languages at all can be more than 100 points. Recently, researchers have begun to discover that Latin students tend to outperform other students in the math sections of standardized tests as well—owing perhaps to precise thinking and the use of the tools of learning that come with the study of Latin.

As classical educators, Christ Classical teachers know that Latin is one of the most important tools we have for equipping our students to learn, not just Latin, but everything. That is part of why we are committed to teaching Latin and other classical languages, not to raise test scores, but because Latin is the sine qua non of classical education.

“I will say at once, quite firmly, that the best grounding for education is the Latin grammar. I say this, not because Latin is traditional and medieval, but simply because even a rudimentary knowledge of Latin cuts down the labor and pains of learning any other subject by at least fifty percent.” -Dorothy L. Sayers

Christ Classical School maintains that God is a rational God and that humans created in His image are rational beings. We believe that God reveals Himself to humans in rational ways through the Holy Scriptures and His creation, commonly called nature. Christianity, the way of life through which humans enjoy fellowship with God as their Heavenly Father, is, therefore, a rational lifestyle.

Clearly, all Christian parents desire their children to know the truth of Christianity. Christ Classical seeks to aid parents in helping children understand the truth of Christianity through rational means so that the truths each student holds concerning God and Jesus Christ are his own and are truths he can personally defend against those who would challenge his faith. The goal is to educate students, teaching them how to know, through concurrent instruction in logic, Bible, science, etc., rather than to indoctrinate by merely teaching them what to know.

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” 1 Peter 3:15

 

The design of rhetoric is to teach the student skills in the art of reading critically and appreciatively all kinds of writing. It also is to instruct and inspire the student to write well in diverse styles, to speak eloquently with persuasion and confidence, and to listen courteously with understanding. The arts of communication and expression are critical for an educated person and essential to the believer who desires to obey God in his call to “always be ready to give a defense.” Christ Classical School understands that when you supply the student with the tool of rhetoric, you lay the foundation for a lifetime of learning.

“Now, the art of rhetoric being available for the enforcing either of truth or falsehood, who will dare to say that truth in the person of its defenders is to take its stand unarmed against falsehood? For example, that those who are trying to persuade men of what is false are to know how to introduce their subject, so as to put the hearer into a friendly, or attentive, or teachable frame of mind, while the defenders of the truth shall be ignorant of that art? That the former are to tell their falsehoods briefly, clearly, and plausibly, while the latter shall tell the truth in such a way that it is tedious to listen to, hard to understand, and, in fine, not easy to believe it? That the former are to oppose the truth and defend falsehood with sophistical arguments, while the latter shall be unable either to defend what is true, or to refute what is false? That the former, while imbuing the minds of their hearers with erroneous opinions, are by their power of speech to awe, to melt, to enliven, and to rouse them, while the latter shall in defense of the truth be sluggish, and frigid, and somnolent? Who is such a fool as to think this wisdom? Since, then, the faculty of eloquence is available for both sides, and is of very great service in the enforcing either of wrong or right, why do not good men study to engage it on the side of truth, when bad men use it to obtain the triumph of wicked and worthless causes, and to further injustice and error?”
– On Christian Doctrine by Saint Augustine

Accreditation

Accreditation is a voluntary act initiated by a school or institution that requires a rigorous self-evaluation and an objective assessment of the quality of the school’s administration and programs (governance, academic and extra-curricular programs, and facility) by a group of professional like-minded peers. Accreditation emphasizes quality assurance and a commitment to the overall improvement of the school in consideration to it’s stated goals. To achieve accreditation by the selected accreditation organization a school must:

  • Adhere to the accrediting organizations identified standards
  • Develop and implement a comprehensive Strategic Plan
  • Undergo a periodic review of its financial stability, retention and placement rates
  • Fully participate in regularly scheduled site visits.

Schools that meet with established standards are granted the accredited status for a designated period of time, ranging from three to five years.

Christ Classical School is a member of the Association of Classical and Christian Schools (ACCS). It is the intent of the board of directors to seek and obtain accreditation with the Association of Classical and Christian Schools promptly, consistent with the ACCS accreditation guidelines.

Parental Involvement and Responsibilities

Christ Classical School is a covenantal, discipleship-based, educational program and therefore requires that at least one parent profess faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is also essential that both parents (in a single parent home, one parent) have a clear understanding of the biblical philosophy and purpose of Christ Classical School. This includes a willingness to have their child presented the clear teaching (not forced indoctrination) of the school’s Statement of Faith. The parents should be willing to cooperate with and adhere to all written policies of Christ Classical School; especially in the area of discipline and schoolwork standards, as well as active communication with the particular teacher(s) and administration.

 

It is our belief that parents are responsible for educating their children (Deuteronomy 4:9 and 6:6-9). For this reason, Christ Classical School provides a service to Christian parents for the education of their children. Parents are encouraged to participate at all organizational levels: volunteering in and out of the classroom, serving on/with the faculty or staff and working on/with the governing board. We welcome parents to visit the classroom and to join children for lunch when schedules permit. Parental involvement and support in the classroom, on field trips, at special services and programs, and annual events are also encouraged.

Effective Discipline

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right … and, fathers do not exasperate your children, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” – Ephesians 6:1,4

It is our intent at Christ Classical School to instruct every child to obey his parents and to show respect to all persons. Expecting obedience to those in authority provides training for good citizenship and, more importantly, establishes a lifestyle of obedience to God and His Word. We endeavor to have as few rules as possible and to enforce them through a combination of rewards balanced with the just and consistent application of appropriate consequences. In fairness to all students and their families, no student is allowed to be disruptive to the process of instruction or to ill-treat another student.