Journal

Welcome Sarah Pfannestiel – K-1st Grade Teacher

Sarah holds her Bachelor of Arts degrees in both Secondary Education and Social Science from Benedictine College. Prior to joining SCA, Sarah taught middle school History and Theology at Frassati Catholic Academy. Her passion for classical education, methodology, and curriculum began in high school when she attended Ridgeview Classical School in Fort Collins. Studying in Florence, Italy, in college further deepened her love for history, culture, and the Western Judeo-Christian tradition.

Sarah and her husband were married in January of 2020. They enjoy hiking, camping, and exploring new places together. Their faith, family, and friends are most important to them.

Sarah shares her love for Christ naturally with her students. Her joy of learning is contagious as she teaches.

Sarah’s Philosophy of Education

Solid education combines classicalism, constructivism, and the philosophies of Thomas Aquinas. Classicalism incorporates Great Books curricula and the root beliefs of Western Civilization. This is taught in the Trivium of Grammar, Logic, and Rhetoric at appropriate ages of development in a pupil’s life. Constructivism postulates that all learning spirals back on previous learning, so that one’s education builds on itself naturally. Lastly, following Thomas Aquinas, humans ought to study what is good, true, and beautiful to reach their end goal of knowing intimacy with God.

Although differing in cultural expression, all humans are ultimately created by God to know, love and serve Him. In school, students and teachers might know God in part by seeking what is true, noble, and beautiful in their studies. For this, curriculum should be truthful and worthwhile, be that practical or appreciative, and balance the humanities, hard sciences, reason, faith, art, creative expression, and physical exertion. Teachers might incorporate images of great art, beautiful poetry, or the wonders of nature to inspire their students to seek beauty and truth in their lives. By constructing new knowledge on past learning, lessons might be deeply experienced and integrated. Curriculum and assignments should follow the order of the Trivium so the level of difficulty is appropriate to the student’s development.

Learning also comes from example. Teachers should model Christlike behavior and teach moral lessons with love and logic to demonstrate the dignity, love, and respect given to each person and exemplified by Christ to his contemporaries. This must be done consistently, both within and without the classroom; positive relationship building with students and the community is key. Implicit curriculum should promote Christian philosophy and virtues, such as sharing and respect. Lastly, opportunities for service and social interaction will foster cooperation and conscientiousness so students and faculty can love God by loving each other. Combined, these practices will help students and teachers cultivate a relationship with God, an undying love of learning, virtue, and respect for others.

Welcome Sarah Pfannestiel – K-1st Grade Teacher Read More »

Welcome Patrick Sobecki 4th-6th Grade Teacher

Patrick holds a Bachelors of Arts in Great Books from Bethlehem College and Seminary. He is currently pursuing a Masters of Divinity from Reformed Theological Seminary Online. 

Patrick married his college sweetheart in 2016. Originally from Colorado, they love living in the Boulder area and are excited to be part of discipling and training the next generation. Together they enjoy visiting coffee shops, reading great fiction, and the theater. They are members of Calvary Bible Evangelical Free Church in Boulder. 

Patrick is excited for the opportunity to be teaching and sharing the classical education he received at Bethlehem College, where the great books are studied in light of the Greatest Book for the sake of the Great Commission. 

Patrick’s Philosophy of Education

My philosophy of teaching focuses on the six habits of mind and heart that I learned while at Bethlehem College in Minneapolis. These habits are there to serve students as they progress out of the classroom and prepare them to become lifelong learners and achievers of great things. The mark of a truly educated person is not their ability to pass a test or regurgitate a prepared answer, but to be able to grasp another’s meaning, understand it thoroughly, and to answer it with the wisdom God has provided in His Word and His world.

The first habit of mind and heart is observing. Students must learn how to see for themselves what is before them, not just to be told what is before them. This first habit is the foundation for all critical thinking, as the student learns how to see for themselves what is in a text, or in creation, or the content of another’s speech. Then after learning to observe carefully, they can begin to see the world in the way in which God sees.

The second habit of mind and heart is understanding. This is the habit of being able to rearticulate the ideas of another in such a clear way that the author themselves would exclaim with delight over being so well understood. Without this habit, education becomes a twisting of other’s words to fit one’s own worldview. Understanding both Scripture and secular writers from all times and places exposes the flaws and faults of our own culture’s thinking and opens up students to the beautiful truth that God has set in His Word and world.

The third habit of mind and heart is evaluating. Since God is the source of absolute truth and He has revealed it to us first through the special revelation of His word and then through the general revelation of reason, students must be taught how to put the claims of authors against the truth of God. Only then can students learn how to rightly sift the true things that authors may be saying from the dross of cultural or philosophical falsity. This habit is crucial, for it allows students to honestly engage secular authors while still holding the Scriptures as the standard against which all claims about reality must be measured against.

The fourth habit of mind and heart is feeling rightly. Since God has ordained that people be feelers as well as thinkers, helping students pay attention to their emotional responses is a vital part of education. God is glorified by our right emotions of joy over Him and sorrow over sin. This habit of observing and understanding our emotions as we encounter reality helps students to see the way in which they are reacting to God’s Word and world.

The fifth habit of mind and heart is applying. The truths that are learned in the classroom must reshape the lives of students, otherwise the teaching has failed. Therefore, the process of students applying truth to their actual lives must be taught and followed through on, so that students can learn that the life of the mind and the life of the heart are intertwined.

The sixth and final habit of mind and heart is expressing. This the final step of a student who has passed through all the other stages of learning and can finally teach others the truths they have learned. This final habit is arguably one of the greatest goals of education, so that as students come to love God and their neighbor more, they can also help others to do the same.

These habits of mind and heart represent the core of my philosophy of teaching. Students come into contact with the greatest thinkers and ideas throughout history in the arena of classical education. They would have learned the habits to not just poke holes in the arguments of others, but apply the Golden rule to learning, understanding others as they wish to be understood.

Welcome Patrick Sobecki 4th-6th Grade Teacher Read More »

How Different School Types Influence Who You Become

The Good Soil survey was released early this year and shows significant differences for alumni of classical Christian Schools. ACCS students are more prepared academically, more traditional in their views, think more critically, and are more influential than those from other school backgrounds. During the 1990s, families in about 100 communities across the United States started classical Christian schools with the hope of offering an education that would assist parents in raising their children in the paideia of the Lord. The question almost thirty years later is: “To what extent have the goals of classical Christian education been realized?” To that end, the ACCS commissioned a study by the University of Notre Dame’s Sociology Department. David Goodwin, the president of ACCS talks about this study in this video, and you can view the full report here

Now we have an even newer study conducting the same survey, but using ACCS Alumni as a proxy for classical Christian education. The University of Notre Dame and ACCS teamed up to to produce “The School Effect”. The Summer 2020 issue of The Classical Difference is dedicated to describing the seven outcomes of “school.”

The Differences add up. In a survey of this type, the magnitude of the differences shown indicates that something is unique about ACCS graduates. Check out the full report here to learn more about this study.

Content taken fromThe Classical Difference Vol. 6 No.2 | Special Issue 2020

How Different School Types Influence Who You Become Read More »

Meet Our Head of School

We believe that it matters greatly who teaches our children. For that reason, the founders of SCA have handpicked Teresa Fraser to serve as Head of School. She is a leader of principled character and gracious love. Her heart for families results in beautiful relationships and a profound impact on the students she disciples. 

Teresa attended the University of Oklahoma for two years before transferring to Milligan College where she earned both her B.S. in Elementary Education and her Masters of Education. She has been a part of the founding of four different schools: Providence Academy in Johnson City, TN; Rocky Mountain Christian Academy in Niwot, CO; Flatirons Academy in Lafayette, CO; and Summit Classical Academy currently in Broomfield, CO. 

As Head of School, Teresa has worked in planning, preparing, and producing an excellent classical Christian education for students and their families. She is fully committed to sharing the grace and truth of Jesus with children, supporting parents, training and equipping teachers, and building a strong community of families. The heart of her profession has been the relationships she has built through the years with students, parents, staff and colleagues. Teresa believes her role is to come alongside parents as a partner in their children’s education. She is especially devoted to building a strong network of support for single parents, and she has a unique passion for involving fathers as much as mothers in their children’s school, because she has seen evidence through the years that students enjoy even more success with the mom and dad team behind them. 

Teresa believes that academics are only one facet in the educating and raising of children and that children need time to play and pursue their passions, gifts, and interests outside of the classroom. For this reason, she strongly believes in minimal homework so as not to intrude on other important activities such as family time, music, sports, art, friendships, and freeplay. 

Teresa and her husband Jim have been married since 1992. They have raised two remarkable children, their daughter Sadie and son Addison. Though Colorado is their beloved home, Teresa still faithfully cheers for her football teams, the Oklahoma Sooners and the Buffalo Bills, proving that she is no fair weather fan but loyal to the core.  

Meet Our Head of School Read More »

Our Why Video

Vision

We aim to produce students who learn continually, listen intently, articulate precisely, love rightly, contend gracefully, and live purposefully for the glory of God and the good of others.

Mission

We will build community and serve our community by partnering with parents in the education of their children, striving to develop all aspects of the student’s potential. We will provide a classical Christian education, a peaceful and inspiring environment, and a high standard of expectations for our students, teachers, and leaders, all for the glory of God.

Core Values

What we will do every day:

  • Speak truth, so that students know that they are gifts from God, image bearers of God, and warriors for God

What we want for our students:

  • To think critically and deeply
  • To articulate their thoughts precisely
  • To struggle with ideas
  • To be challenged every day
  • To love God and love people
  • To treat others’ thoughts and ideas with kindness and respect
  • To create or build something with their hands
  • To love and serve others by contributing their unique thoughts and personalities

What we want for our families:

  • To know that parents are their children’s primary educators
  • To know that the school is partnering with them in their children’s education
  • To know that BOTH men and women are equally critical in their children’s education
  • To be welcome into our doors every day
  • To have abundant opportunities to be seen, to participate, and to be part of the school community
  • To understand that the school is best when everyone’s God-given talents are utilized
  • To continually find opportunities to serve our surrounding communities

Our Why Video Read More »

King Soopers Community Rewards For SCA

Summit Classical Academy is thrilled to announce that we are now a part of King Soopers and City Market Community Rewards. The Kroger Co. Family of Stores is committed to helping the local neighborhoods grow and prosper. They seek to not only be a part of the community but to serve the community by supporting the unique organizations within it. Year after year, local schools, churches and other nonprofit organizations earn thousands of dollars through King Soopers Community Rewards. The mission of King Soopers aligns with SCA’s mission to build community and serve our community, and we are delighted to be a part of this amazing program.

Help us build our SCA community! We encourage you to link your loyalty card to Summit Classical Academy. Community Rewards is easy to use… all you have to do is shop at King Soopers and swipe your SooperCard (or enter Alt ID)! The more you shop with King Soopers or City Market, the more money Summit Classical Academy will earn!

Sign In or Create an Account to Enroll

For King Soopers Stores – go to http://www.kingsoopers.com

For City Market Stores – go to http://www.citymarket.com

New users will need to create an account, which requires some basic information, a valid email address and a loyalty card. Once logged into your King Soopers or City Market account, click on Valued Customer, go to My Account, then click on Community Rewards.  From there you can search for Summit Classical Academy either by name or organization number VE003.  Please note that the address associated with our account is our business office, not the physical location of the school.

We encourage your support to help us raise the funds we need for financial aid, school supplies, new teachers, curriculum, technology and so many other things that are necessary to run a school.

Please share this with your family and friends so they can help support SCA!

Thank you for your support!

Summit Classical Academy

King Soopers Community Rewards For SCA Read More »

Good News at SCA

Nothing could replace face-to-face interaction with teachers and friends, but the way that SCA was led online during COVID was second best. My favorite part of the semester was the relationships that grew out of doing something so new and unique together. My kids loved every second with their teachers, both online and in person, and I think it is for one very simple reason: they felt valued. They were given many chances to share thoughts, ask questions, practice their senses of humor (which, let’s be honest, most everyone needs to practice, especially left-brained eight-year-old boys), let loose their unique personalities, and every time they were received enthusiastically by their class and teachers. This made them feel likeable, accepted, and – most powerfully – secure in knowing that they were loved. 

They learned a tremendous amount. The curriculum and their retention of it blew my mind. I’m grateful for that, but it is a very small thing compared to the spiritual and emotional growth that came from the relationships this semester.

Danette Miller

Summit Classical Academy has been an absolute blessing to our family. Having a board and teachers who are committed to creating a safe and effective learning environment for both kiddos who excel in the world of academia, and those who struggle due to learning differences (like both my daughters with dyslexia) has been such a gratifying experience. We have seen our girls flourish as they have been championed and challenged at SCA. We are so thankful to have found such a wonderful school to partner with us to help educate and cultivate love for learning, self, others, and Jesus.

Julie Golter

Good News at SCA Read More »

Internet Safety Tips & Resources for Families

Internet safety and virtuous digital citizenship have never been more pressing topics as they are now. According to a recent UNICEF global report, “The coronavirus pandemic has led to an unprecedented rise in screen time […] School closures and strict containment measures mean more and more families are relying on technology and digital solutions to keep children learning, entertained and connected to the outside world, but not all children have the necessary knowledge, skills, and resources to keep themselves safe online.”i

Although digital threats such as Internet pornography, cyberbullying, identify theft, virtual scams, and tech-related addictions abound, Christian families need not despair or feel powerless in the face of these Goliath-like challenges. When we trust in God, take diligent action steps, and exemplify righteous leadership in our homes, we can succeed at fortifying our families and becoming examples of the believers (1 Timothy 4:12) offline and online.

Here are some of my favorite tips and resources for parents, grandparents, and caregivers who are motivated to promote safe and healthy media use in their home:

INTERNET SAFETY TIPS:

1. Openly discuss family standards and expectations related to the amount, the frequency, and the type of media used by family members. Clarifying and teaching the specific family values and gospel principles that align with these standards will help children understand the ‘why’ behind the standard. It is wise to review these standards at least one to three times a year. The beginning of a new school year, the start of summer break, or when facing a new situation (e.g., a state-ordered home quarantine!) are excellent opportunities to discuss how to navigate media use in healthy and safe ways.

2. Model the kind of media use and digital behavior you want your children to live by.

3. Teaching healthy sexuality at home and imparting our values and beliefs about the sanctity of the body, the God-given gift of sexuality, and the nature of healthy relationships provides a powerful anchor and buffer against the lies children will face online. This kind of teaching is most effective when both parents (when possible) are involved and the discussion is layered over time in developmentally appropriate ways.

4. Demystify virtual anonymity by teaching children that nothing we do or say online is truly anonymous or free of consequences. The commandment to love one another applies at all times and in all places, including the virtual world. Conversely, our children need to know that not everyone lives this commandment and that there are people who are not who they appear to be online and who can be cruel and even criminal.

5. Create a simple plan or ‘fire drill’ for how you want family members to respond when they encounter something online that causes them to feel scared, uncomfortable, intensely curious, or hurt. The fire drill can be adapted for different ages and needs. A simple fire drill could be: 1) Shut it off/Turn away, 2) Tell a parent, 3) Decide together how to avoid the content or situation in the future, 4) Pray for help and protection.

6. Share personal examples with our children about how we have dealt with media or Internet dilemmas.

7. Ensure that all Internet-enabled devices have their system updates downloaded and installed. Many system updates include security features, so this can significantly help with Internet security and allow protective settings and filters to work optimally.

8. Activate the parental control features on all Internet-enabled devices, browsers, and apps. For example, Google has SafeSearch, YouTube has Restricted Mode, Sirius XM satellite radio has a feature to block explicit radio channels, Xbox has parental control settings, and Netflix allows you to set and lock the rating limit for specific profiles. Although it is an investment of time to get these features located and activated, they are free tools that add an important layer of protection and peace of mind.

9. Install a filtering system (e.g., Net Nanny, Disney Circle) that allows management of when the Internet is on and off, what type of content is viewed, and ensures all family members are accountable and safe. Check for updates and review the filter settings every other month.

10. If Internet safety is a topic that causes stress or feelings of overwhelm, consider choosing just one thing to implement and then add one tool or approach each month.

INTERNET SAFETY RESOURCES:

CLEAN & SAFE MEDIA PLEDGE FOR FAMILIES: Discussing and signing a media pledge as a family can be a highly effective way to clarify family values related to media use. Posting the signed pledge in a visible area of your home can serve as an ongoing reminder of how your family has decided to use media and why. View the Clean & Safe Media Pledge

SMARTER PARENTING: This website is a parenting goldmine! It provides dozens of lessons, videos, free printables, and ideas for anyone wanting to be a more effective parent. Internet safety is one of many aspects of smart parenting in today’s world, so anything that helps us become more effective parents also helps us better tackle Internet and media issues. Visit Smarter Parenting

EDUCATE EMPOWER KIDS: This group has produced dozens of practical and thought-provoking resources related to Internet safety, pornography, empathy, media literacy, and healthy sexuality. Their 30 Days of Sex Talks series is a staple in my own home, and I highly recommend the free lessons and printables they have created which cover topics such as digital citizenship and social media etiquette. Visit Educate Empower Kids

FBI’S GUIDE TO PROTECTING YOUR KIDS: The FBI provides an excellent online resource for parents interested in protecting their children from a wide range of threats, including abduction, drug use, online predators, cybercrime, social networking sites, and sex offenders. It also includes links to the FBI’s Child ID App. Visit the FBI’s Guide to Protecting Your Kids

COMMON SENSE MEDIA: This group is the leading independent nonprofit organization providing unbiased information and ratings for movies, video games, books, TV shows, apps, and YouTube programs. This site helps families “harness the power of media and technology as a positive force in all kids’ lives.” Visit Common Sense Media

NET NANNY: Net Nanny has long created one of the top-rated filtering and monitoring software programs on the market. Visit Net Nanny

COVENANT EYES: Covenant Eyes is a popular filtering and accountability program. They also provide an impressive array of free resources and e-books pertaining to overcoming pornography problems, including some content for partners of sex addicts. Visit Covenant Eyes

ROUTER LIMITS: A cloud-based router filtering and device management program that provides protection for all internet-enabled devices and not just computers (e.g., smart TVs, phones, gaming consoles, etc.). Visit Router Limits

DISNEY CIRCLE ROUTER FILTER: A popular router filtering and device management program. Disney Circle is a solid option for a whole-home filtering and monitoring system that is user-friendly. Visit Disney Circle Router Filter

i. Children at increased risk of harm online during global COVID-19 pandemic. (15 April 2020). Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/children-increased-risk-harm-online-during-global-covid-19-pandemic.

Dr. Jill Manning is a licensed marriage and family therapist who specializes in working with individuals impacted by compulsive sexual behavior and betrayal trauma in their primary relationship. Over the last twenty years, her work has been featured in numerous peer-reviewed journals, television programs, documentaries, radio shows, and magazine articles, including Oprah Magazine. While serving as a Social Science Fellow at the Heritage Foundation in D.C. in 2005, she was invited to testify before a US Senate sub-committee about the harms of pornography on the family. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Enough is Enough and the Advisory Council for Fight the New Drug. A native of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, she currently lives in Colorado with her husband and two daughters.

Internet Safety Tips & Resources for Families Read More »

LOL – Love of Learning

Last Friday, our students shared their Love of Learning (LOL) with their classmates. While similar to a “show and tell”, it is so much more. Learning is taking place all around us and it does not just happen in a classroom. Students are encouraged to follow their passions and learn in all sorts of ways. LOL is a time they are able to share what they discovered, created, and learned with others. This week, Reagan shared her stuffed bunnies and how they make her feel happy and safe, Miquella amazed the audience with a mathematical magic trick with playing cards, Maeve demonstrated how to add toppings to ice cream using real ice-cream (and then eating it), Eli explained how he keeps his LEGOs organized, and he displayed his most recent LEGO masterpiece that included a COVID-19 shield for his Lego dad, Gracelyn shared a limerick she wrote and her stuffed animals that go with the book ‘Black Beauty’, Hartley presented how to make an ice cream sundae with her toy ice cream set, and Theo revealed his Army tank that was crafted from boxes, skateboards, and other items. Our students love each other and enjoy sharing what they’ve learned with their class, teachers, and anyone else who would like to see what their inquisitive and creative minds discover and create. They would also like to share their LOL with you! Check out our latest LOL video and be inspired to learn something new yourself.

LOL – Love of Learning Read More »