FAQS
Your child will learn literature, language, history, mathematics, music, Scripture, and the full range of natural philosophy which are often referred to as the “sciences”–biology, chemistry, physics, etc. The difference in classical education is a philosophy which connects all of these “subjects” into a coordinated view of reality.
Membership in the church is not a requirement for attending the school. However, the Church’s doors are always open for visitors and inquirers.
History may or may not repeat itself, but an education in history must. History education begins with stories told well. The story we are ultimately hoping to trace is God’s story: how is God reconciling the world to himself through Jesus Christ? Stories happen in time and place, so we learn dates and geography so that we can better understand one story as it relates to all other stories in the past and their effect in the present. By middle school, students are prepared to read original documents; by graduation, students are prepared to do original research.
Classical education is not “old and outdated,” but has been found time-tested for centuries and enduring. At Saint Paul’s Classical School students learn critical thinking, logic & reason, and how to draw creative conclusions. Our subject matter is as “up to date” as any other school, but adds a greater depth to how children will learn to use that knowledge in the right way. Students who are classically educated are better equipped to go into any field of study and be successful.
Christ is the center of all of life – including education! Because Christ was raised from the dead, every thought we think and action we do must grow out from this truth. Education in the parish gives us the opportunity to shape children to be lifelong citizens of the Kingdom of God and seek the common good.
Not at all! Class sizes will always be kept small. This frees teachers to give personal attention to every student and allows students to develop closer bonds of friendship.
Classical education goes beyond teaching different subjects or learning subjects in a deeper and more complete way. We seek to form each student as a human being, which includes moral character. Every child learns how to act and think from the earliest ages by watching and imitating their peers and adults. Imitation forms habits. Habits form character. Character forms as early as late elementary school. By starting at Saint Paul’s early, we can form strong habits through imitating the good. These habits allow a Christ-like character to bud and blossom within our students, giving them the best version of themselves.
No, but all students must be able to pray with us and fully participate in the life of our school.
Science begins by looking at the world around us, at the birds and the animals, the trees and the soil. We want to figure out how these things move us and affect us. Because the world follows natural laws, we discover the relationships between objects, perform experiments, and better understand our own place in the created order.
Saint Paul’s Classical School believes that parents are the primary educators of their children and considers itself a partner of our parents in their desire to raise their children well.
We teach Latin for a few reasons. Latin is itself a beautiful language and education ought always include beauty. Latin was the language of Ancient Rome and the Medieval West; to be conversant in Latin is to be conversant with centuries. Additionally, while studying a second language encourages us to think about our primary language, Latin is the foundation for as much as fifty percent of English words. Knowledge of Latin roots improves reading comprehension as education continues.