WHy CLASSICAL, CHRISTIAN EDUCATIOn?

What is Classical, Christian education?

Classical Christian education (CCE) is a time-tested educational system which establishes a biblical worldview (called Paideia), incorporates methods based on natural phases of child development, cultivates the seven Christian virtues, trains students in reasoning through the Trivium (Grammar, Logic, and Rhetoric), and engages children in “the great conversation” through the historical Great Books.

All education is paideia.

Paideia is a Greek word for the education that shapes a person and a culture. Paideia is powerful because it influences who we are in a deep way that is almost imperceptible to us– it’s woven into us from childhood. We’re intentional about the kind of people and the culture encouraged in school. Our goal as Christian parents and educators is the give our kids a Christian worldview or Paideia as the Lord commands us in Ephesians 6:4, “ Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the PAIDEIA and instruction of the Lord.”

PAIDEIA cultivates rightly ordered affections. 

The ancient concept of virtue. Since the early church, Christians have been training students to love the true, the good, and the beautiful. And to “rightly order” those loves so that we love first our God and then our neighbor. This means that we order our affections as God would have us.

Christian community IS CRUCIAL.

A classical Christian school is a community of parents and teachers who share a commitment for teaching children to love learning and grow in godliness. The schools acknowledge that God has given parents the responsibility for their children's education and that the schools instruct those students under the parents’ delegated authority.

In short, classical Christian education teaches a student how to learn, how to live, what to love, and how to think for the glory of God.

Classical Christian education is the cultivation of wisdom and virtue through the study of the scriptures, the liberal arts and the humanities.

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THE TRIVIUM



Three Schools in One

There are three schools, known as the Trivium, in a k-12 classical Christian education: Grammar, Logic, and Rhetoric. These schools are age appropriate and developmentally important to a young scholar.  The Grammar, Logic and Rhetoric schools engage and meet children where they are to provide the methods and content needed for a joyous and engaging learning experience in these three arts.

GRAMMAR SCHOOL

Kindergarten through 4th grades make up our Grammar School. Young children excel at memorization and enjoy singing, and rhymes. We take advantage of this age to implement memory devices in every subject to give them a thorough foundation of knowledge. Recitation is a powerful tool to develop children into masters of the written and spoken word. We utilize a phonemic spelling curriculum so they might have the building blocks needed to read any word they encounter, giving them a lifelong tool of joyful reading. In addition, we learn the characteristics of God, and how to read and study the Word.  Each day places an emphasis on the wonder and the goodness of God, His creation, and the order He brings to our lives. We sing, we laugh, and we play in the Grammar School!

LOGIC SCHOOL

Our Logic School is comprised of grades 5-8. Teen students are inquisitive, so we actively work to develop their ability to reason and discern truth. This stage is usually accompanied by a natural desire to argue and question everything they have learned thus far so they begin their formal study of logic. We challenge our students to begin reasoning well, to think through the hard questions of life, and to seek the wisdom of  God's Word as our ultimate guide. In this stage we place an emphasis on learning personal responsibility, discipline, and integrity with a lot of grace. We debate, we laugh, and we mature in the Logic School.

RHETORIC SCHOOL

The School of Rhetoric is the culmination of the Trivium. It is exciting to put together all the students have learned and begin to apply their knowledge in expressions of wisdom and eloquence. Students in this school will express their knowledge by learning how to prepare articulate, persuasive, and cogent oral and written presentations. These skills culminate in the Senior Thesis Capstone Course. Students in the School of Rhetoric will be given opportunities to mature and develop in their faith by leading younger students in discipleship groups, serving in community service projects, and weekly worship. We speak, we serve, and we finish strong in the Rhetoric School!

The Goals of Classical,

Christian Education

With the completion of the Trivium, students will have mastered the real tools of learning—fundamental building blocks, analytical skills, mental discipline, oral presentation, writing skills, and a biblical framework. They will be enthusiastic independent learners, able to tackle virtually any new area of study competently and from a distinctly biblical and Christian worldview. We hope that a Christus Classical School education cultivates in children the ability to discern what is good, true, and beautiful and to defend it with wisdom and engaging persuasion. We pray our graduates will make a change in the world for the good of all people and the glory of God.