Journal

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

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.

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.

The current challenges facing today’s families may seem overwhelming. Kids at home for school. Parents trying to work from home. Social distancing. Washing, washing and rewashing of hands. Wiping, spraying, cleaning, wearing gloves, masks and the list goes on!  All of this in an effort to keep our families from “getting” sick! Although this is very important and necessary, we as parents need to ask ourselves what can we do to not only keep from “getting” sick but to actually help our kids “stay” healthy and active? Here’s a few tips to help guide you through these trying times.

Maintain Routines

Maintaining a regular school day/daily routine helps decrease stress, instill security, and give kids a feeling of normalcy. 

• Keep Regular Wake-up / Bedtime Schedules
• Create an Organized School / Workspace Environment
• Practice Normal Hygiene Routines
• Allow Children Short Breaks Throughout the School Day

Eat Well / Sleep Well

Keeping your child’s immune system strong is very important. Good nutrition and proper rest are vital to supporting the immune system. 

• Choose Healthy and Nutritionally Dense Foods (Fruits, Vegetables, Protein, Healthy Fats and Low Sugar)
• Stay Hydrated; Drink Water and Limit High Sugar Drinks
• Adequate Sleep is 8-12 Hours a Night Depending on the Age of Your Child
• Turn Off / Avoid Electronics Preferably 1 Hour Before Going to Bed

Exercise Daily 

You may have noticed your kids have a lot of energy. Here are some fun physical activities for your child and the whole family. 

• Go Big on Yard Games! Promote as Much Outdoor Activity as Possible!
• Create a Hopscotch Course Full of Various Shapes, Sizes, and Themes
• Fitness Scavenger Hunt: Customize a List of Exercises to Locate, Complete, and Check Off
• Lawn Twister: Replicate the Twister Game by Spray Painting Circles on the Lawn and Make a Homemade Game Piece Spinner
• Outdoor Obstacle Course with Various Household Objects
• Outdoor Track and Field Activities (Standing Long Jump, Running Long Jump, High Jump, Hurdling, Shotput)
• Practice Skills Related to Ball Sports (Basketball, Football, Baseball, Soccer)
• Jump Rope (Long, Short, Double Dutch)
• Frisbee Toss
• Family Walks, Hikes & Bike Rides
• Train for a Family Race (3k, 5k, 10k)
• Indoor Circuit Training Stations (Various Timed Activities to Music)
• Indoor Dance Party

Emotional Wellness & Self Care

Both Adults and children can experience high levels of stress and anxiety. Here are a few things to help your children & family cope during challenging times. 

• Meditate Upon and Memorize Scripture and God’s Promises
• Choose Bible Verses to Memorize as a Family
• Practice Gratitude: Make a Daily List of Things You Are Thankful For
• Choose Joy: Laugh, Tell Jokes, Find Humor Throughout the Day
• Help Others While Maintaining Social Distancing (Neighbors, Elderly & Needy)
• Take Time for Yourself to Refresh and Rejuvenate
• Enjoy a Hobby or a Craft
• Allow Your Kids to Take Short Breaks to Help Refocus During School
• Be Aware of Changes in Your Child’s Behavior or Mood

Lastly, but most importantly, what does God have to say about being healthy and staying fit? The Bible teaches us that God values our physical bodies and considers them to be the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). As Christians, we honor God by caring for our bodies so that we may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:17). In 3 John 1:2, he states “I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.”

Lorene Wrapp
Physical Education Expert

“Good morning, students! I am so happy you are here. Today will be filled with lots of love and learning. Let’s begin our day with prayer. My challenge for you today is to love your neighbor as yourself. What are some ways you can love your neighbor as yourself? At the end of the day, we will revisit this question and we will share one way that we accomplished this goal.”

Five years ago, if you told me this would be how I started every day with my kindergarteners, I would have thought you were crazy. Ever since my decision to be a teacher, I assumed it would be in a public elementary school. After two years of teaching in a public school, I took a leap of faith and applied at a classical Christian school and was hired as a kindergarten teacher. This change brought more community and more learning than I could have ever imagined. Teaching in a classical Christian school has opened my eyes to the plan God has for me and I am able to openly glorify Him in the classroom everyday.

Jesus Is In Everything

Is Jesus really in all subjects and can I find a way to see Him in everything I do in and out of the classroom? Yes! He is everywhere, in all things, and in every part of my life. This is one of the biggest life lessons I have learned since teaching in a classical Christian school. It is one thing to go through my day teaching each subject, but it’s another thing to include Jesus in every subject. When I am mindful of seeing, feeling, and hearing Jesus in each lesson, the class and I connect on a deeper level. The students and I can have conversations that bring up questions, praises, and a heart of gratitude. It is a beautiful thing to have a class full of students, kindergarten at that, who want to know Jesus and see Him in everything.

Jesus In Every Subject

Bible – This is a given – Jesus is in the Bible! Teaching students the story of creation, the miracles of Jesus, the Christmas story, the Easter story, and so much more helps me learn the stories again, but at a deeper level. I also get to learn along with them. My first year teaching, some students taught me a song they learned in church. They teach me as much as I teach them.

Math – God is infinite and a God of order. He is consistent and always true, just as 1+1=2 is true. He created numbers for us to use in various ways such as measurement. Noah used measurement when he built the ark and two of each animal were on the ark. 

Reading and Writing- As a Christ-follower, one of the most important ways I can worship the Lord is to read the Bible. This is my nourishment, my strength, a way for me to hear from Jesus and learn His ways. If I can’t read, how can I read the Bible? I also taught handwriting in kindergarten. The students and I wrote notes of encouragement to each other, to our families, to police officers, to veterans, and to school volunteers and helpers. I also use writing as a way to encourage others and enjoyed writing to students throughout the year. At the beginning of the year, I had to read the notes to them. At the end of the year, they could read the notes themselves, and wow what a joy it brought all of us to see that independence of reading and writing! It’s one of those moments when growth is felt, not just seen and heard. 

Science – This is probably one of the easiest subjects for me to connect to Jesus. Science experiments even at the kindergarten level bring so much creation to light for us to observe. Those seeds that become flowers? Jesus created it. Mixing liquids together to create a reaction? Jesus created it. Making and trying out a catapult? Jesus created it, too! (And how fun is it to shoot marshmallows across the room with a handmade catapult?!) In the grammar stage (elementary), students learn about the basic science concepts and dig deeper into these concepts in the logic and rhetoric stages (middle school and high school).

History – Our History and Bible curriculum timelines matched really well, so our History discussions were also our Bible discussions. The students and I learned about Moses at the same time in the curriculums, which helped the students make connections to the subjects and Jesus. History narrations become easier when students already have some background knowledge of the stories. 

Songs and Chants

Penny, penny, easily spent. Copper brown and worth one cent…

On the first day, God created day and night…

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut (clap, clap)…

Plant a seed and watch it grow…

Across the sky and down from Heaven, that’s how you make the number seven!

As I write those five lines, I am singing or chanting in my head. Singing and chanting is a big part of classical Christian education. Not only am I personally learning again, but students this age, in the grammar stage, learn best when they can sing and chant. It’s amazing what the students and I learn and memorize together. We learn a new song or chant almost every week. This is one of the many ways that we glorify God in the classroom. 

Discipline

Discipline sounds mean, right? Believe it or not, it is actually a good thing. A really good thing. I think of it as training, which can be tough at the time, but full of rewards in the end. In Hebrews 12:11, it says “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” It takes time, patience, and love to train, but the result is living our lives to the best of our abilities. When a conflict arises in the classroom, it is handled with both truth and grace. The students and I talk through what happened, why it happened, what the Bible says about our actions, what we can do better next time, and that our mistakes are forgiven. 

Ending Each Subject and Ending the Day

Review, review, review! Do you remember everything you hear the first time and remember it forever? I definitely don’t and most of the time my students don’t. After each lesson, we review what was taught and learned. Then, at the end of every day, we go through each subject and review again what was learned. We also talk about where we saw Jesus and who we saw display the character of Jesus. By reviewing our day before students go home, it brings lessons learned to their mind again, which results in students jumping into the car to share with their families what they learned in school. This encourages car conversations that are deeper than “my day was good.” Many parents have told me how much they have learned from their kindergartener, and I share that joy with them – these children are soaking up so much knowledge that they spread to everyone around them.

Written by: Stephanie Fiechtner – Kindergarten/1st Grade Teacher

I joyfully proclaim that parents are the primary teachers of their children.  Little did I know after decades of asserting this truth that parents would find themselves not only being the primary teacher, but their child’s homeschool teacher.  The new reality that we are faced with due to COVID-19  is proving challenging for many.  You are not alone.  Even though it may not feel like it at the moment,  I know you can do this! Unlike your child’s teacher, you had no chance for teacher training, staff development, learning established routines, formulating expectations, or any kind of emotional preparation.  Instead, this opportunity was thrust into your lap, leaving many to think, “Great, now what?”  Your child’s school hasn’t done anything like this before either, so they have been thrown for a loop as well.  Your child knows you as “mom” or “dad”, now they have to adjust to your new role as their teacher.  There is plenty of confusion, uncertainty, trial and error, new experiences and some panic taking place. However, you can do this!  I would like to help.  So, let’s take a step back, take a deep breath, and start with a bit of training.  Let’s think about how to best proceed as a teacher at the beginning of your school year.  Teachers work longer hours at the beginning of the year, getting routines established and learning about the students.  Each new year holds new adventures and challenges, so don’t be surprised if it seems it is taking a lot out of you right now. Give yourself a break.  Hopefully these suggestions will help you become more comfortable with your new role. 

Establish a peaceful environment – As much as you can, establish an environment that is conducive to learning.  Families have different homes.  You may have cozy accommodations or you may have an entire room or two that you can fully devote to being a classroom.  No matter what your circumstance is,  make the most of it.   Your student can help you with this by working with you to create their own learning area which is a wonderful learning experience for them.  It will make their space personal and they will feel accomplished when they are done.  Provide an area with the fewest distractions possible, a sturdy place to write, good lighting, plenty of school supplies (pencils, pencil sharpener, colored pencils, etc.), all of the books/supplies from school that will be needed for completing assignments.  It would also be good to have folders or some other organizational tool for work “To Do” and work that is “Done”. 

Set expectations – The beginning of school is a time to establish routines and set expectations.  The best teachers invest the time needed to form good habits before introducing new curriculum.  This takes time, but is it ever worth it!  Having a daily schedule, routines, behavioral boundaries and systems in place will help the day flow and help children build self efficacy.  Children are capable of so much and usually more than we give them credit for. 

• Daily schedules – How will your days be structured?  Set a start time, plan for short amounts of instructional time (30 minutes or so). Plan breaks between instructional times which will be used for going to the bathroom, getting drinks/snacks, getting the wiggles out and giving their minds a bit of rest.  If you have to work, your child can use a clock to keep their own time, or you can teach them to use a timer.  Having a set schedule gives children the peace of mind that instruction will be over soon, and knowing that they can wait helps them to further develop their self-control.  It is a good idea for students to choose their drink and snacks the night before or in the morning before school, so they do not ask you about a snack and so they can have plenty of time to enjoy their snacks. 
  • If you are working from home, it can be very difficult to answer your child’s questions precisely when they want to ask them. Schedule some time periodically to check in with them. If they know there is a time set aside to ask questions, the compulsion to ask a question as soon as it pops into their heads subsides a bit. Make sure they have some paper available to keep track of questions they want to ask you. You and your child may be surprised at how many answers to their questions they can discover for themselves.
  • Schedule some quiet times in the house when you are working and they want to take breaks. These focused times can be used to play with legos, draw, read a book for pleasure, work on a puzzle, play with toys, etc. This time is not for screens. The key is to allow them to spend some time alone. This teaches focus and the ability to entertain themselves. The activity is not structured, just quiet.
• Behavioral boundaries – How do you expect your child to behave while at “school”? While they are in class expect them to focus, listen attentively, and do what is asked of them. They will have regular breaks, so this is not asking too much. Expect the same respect they give their teachers at school. (If your child does not respect his/her teacher, then this is a topic for another blog.) Children should respond favorably the first time they are asked to do something. They should complete assignments to the very best of their ability and have a good attitude. At SCA students are expected to live like Warriors which means they live by the Warriors’ Creed. “As we strive to live our lives, in Christ, through Christ, and for Christ, we live with humility, live with integrity, live with joy, live with excellence, live with hope, live with courage, live with love, all for the glory of God!” This is a great list of expectations that we should demonstrate in our own lives and teach our children to do the same.
• Develop systems – When you have systems in place things go much more smoothly. Make a plan for where work “To Do” will be kept as well as “Completed” work. Work with your child to make a list of things they can do when they are finished with their school work. If they ask what they should do next or inform you that they are bored, you can tell them to check their list and leave it at that. They are capable. You may want to add a final sentence to the bottom of the list such as, “If none of these things appeal to you at the moment, feel free to come up with additions to this list. I cannot wait to hear about what you have done later today”.

Listen attentively –  Your child does need to be heard, which is why time should be devoted to listening to their questions, things they would like to do, things they have learned during the day, anything they want to talk about.  Listen to them.  They know when you are just nodding your head and not really listening.  You have very smart children.

Be Grateful – Have your children keep a gratitude journal.  This does wonders for the heart and mind.  This has been used to great effect with many of my students and in my own life.  Each day write at least three gratitudes from the day.  There are to be no repeats.  Think of specific things that happened this day and write a quick sentence about them.  These are great to share at the dinner table or before night time prayers.  It is so good to end a day with counting our blessings.  It makes for a peaceful night’s sleep and in the morning, you have another day to discover God’s blessings, and students will be looking for things to add to their gratitude journal.  We all are so much happier when we are focused on looking for the good rather than focusing on the bad. 

Celebrate! –  Celebrate from time to time.  Whether it is finishing a book, memorizing the Presidents, staying on schedule, creating a beautiful piece of art, or just finishing the week of school, find reasons to be joyful.  One of the best reasons to celebrate is because they are your child!  What a gift!

There are, of course, many other tips and tricks.  This list is not exhaustive. The most important thing is to engage in your child’s learning. Show interest in what your child is doing with their day.  Have a daily recap, even if it is right before bed.  Let them tell you about their day and everything they have learned.  Ask questions of them.  What was their best part of the day?  What do they hope to do differently tomorrow?  What did they do today that would make God smile? When parents are interested in the student’s learning, the enthusiasm will be contagious.  They want to gain your favor and bring you joy. 

If you read this and feel overwhelmed, please do not be.  The intention of this blog is to encourage, not condemn, and to give advice, not to demand. Just do the best with what you have.  There is absolutely no benefit to beating yourself up over what you are not doing well.  Take one day at a time.  You were created for such a time as this.  Your children are a gift to YOU. God has given you everything you need to teach your children well.  He has given you Himself.  Again, you can do this!

Feel free to email Teresa at [email protected] if you have any questions or any suggestions of other ways to support and come alongside parents. 

Written by: Teresa Fraser, M. ED – Head of School

“The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the works of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech, night after night they display His knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.” Psalm 19: 1-3

We learn much about our Creator by studying His creation—science and math place us in awe of His greatness, complexity, care and attention in the smallest details. History shapes our understanding of how He relates to us, how He draws us to himself and works in our lives. Created to be relational beings, language helps us learn, relate and communicate with others and Him personally, deeply expressing ourselves and listening to His words to us. And woven into the fibers of our beings, the arts explore how He made us in His image, reflections of His creativity, expression, sensitivity, and complexity. In light of this, music is a significant part of God’s creation. Let’s explore a few ways that including music in the classical curriculum helps draw students closer to our Creator and His purpose for them here on earth.

Beauty in Music

I am constantly in awe of the fact that God not only created our world to be purposeful, but he also created us to respond to Him through His creation.  He created our ears to not only hear sound, but also to respond with enjoyment, emotion, and reflection. But the amazing thing is, just as when we experience something beautiful in the world, the depth of our response only increases as we learn more about it. For example, the night sky is beautiful, but it is so much more awe-inspiring after you have learned about the trillions of stars, galaxies, space, and complexity that you are staring into. Music is beautiful on the surface, but as we learn more about its intricacies and how it is formed, we can enjoy it more fully and are more deeply moved to see the beauty of its ultimate Creator. In short, He created us to enjoy and respond to Him, and we can see this played out clearly in music.

Expression and Worship through Music

Music also gives us a way to connect with others. Just as language, both written and verbal, is an important tool that shapes our ability to express ideas, learn, and relate to others, music is also an important tool to express emotion and build connections with others. This is why it is commonly referred to as a “universal language”—one that all cultures in all of history has understood and used to communicate. When our children learn the language of music, it opens the door for all kinds of relationships with the people around them. But what is unique about the classical Christian music education is that it teaches music in light of the gospel, allowing us to use music as God intended—to point the listener back to Him. I am saddened by how often our culture uses music to self-worship or self-medicate, rather than allowing music to point them to the One who can fulfill their every need and more. But our students will learn to appreciate and use this powerful gift in light of the Giver Himself.

However, our goal with music is not only to connect and communicate with those around us; first and foremost, it works to deepen our relationship with God. Music allows us to communicate with the Lord in prayer, worship, and thanksgiving, both individually and corporately. Perhaps the most beautiful example of this is throughout the Psalms where David pours out his heart to God through songs. Though the music to these psalms is lost, we know that he used music to deepen the words used to express his innermost thoughts and feelings to the Lord. When we equip students with the skills to create and use music, we are expanding their tools of worship.

Creativity in music

One of the most amazing parts of humanity is the fact that we are made in the image of God. Some of the very characteristics of God himself are reflected in ourselves! Aspects of our Creator’s immense creativity are still being discovered and marveled. And we, too, have been given creative minds and hearts. Music gives us an opportunity to learn more about God’s creativity as we imitate Him in composing, interpreting music, and expressing through music. And the cycle continues—as we learn to creatively work with music, we grow in our understanding of how vastly creative God is!

Order in Music

As we learn more about our created world, we find over and over again that God intentionally created our world to be intricate and ordered. We study the intricacies of math and science played out in our universe, and when we look at music, we can see these same elements at work. Music was included as one of the four subjects in the medieval quadrivium because it was viewed as the playing out of “numbers in time.” In fact, the difference between “classical” and “contemporary” music is simply that classical music explores these orderly intricacies on a much deeper level. By studying classical music, children will learn how sounds are ordered into notes, notes into harmonies and melodies, the careful placement in time through specific rhythms, and how the sounds of different instruments or voices come together to create more complexity and depth. They will learn about frequencies, how God designed our bodies to receive and process them into music, and how God designed the very universe to “sing” the same frequencies all around us as they combine science with music. They will explore how order within music has been used and explored throughout history and cultures. This list could go on and on!

Learning through Music

Certainly not last, but the final point I will touch on today is that God has designed our brains to not only respond to music, but He made us to also retain enormous amounts of information through music. Singing and using the natural rhythms in language to chant strengthens neural connections and facilitates greater recall over time. Learning to play instruments further deepens this brain development through spatial awareness, managing many different tasks at once, creatively expressing, and understanding music in a much deeper, experiential way. Knowing how to use music in this way was used as a learning tool even in ancient Hebrew culture. These skills have been largely neglected in modern education, but classical education seeks to restore them in teaching our own children.

Though this list is certainly not exhaustive, we can see how important music is to our children’s education. As a core part of classical education, music flows through history, science, math, learning, and communication, deepening our understanding of the character and beauty of God. It allows us to take part as active participants in His creativity, and worship Him through His creation.  When we teach music in this way, we reclaim music for what it was created for—a way for us to more fully understand, enjoy, grow, and serve our Lord! 

“Praise the Lord!

Praise God in his sanctuary;

    praise him in his mighty heavens!

Praise him for his mighty deeds;

    praise him according to his excellent greatness!

Praise him with trumpet sound;

    praise him with lute and harp!

Praise him with tambourine and dance;

    praise him with strings and pipe!

Praise him with sounding cymbals;

    praise him with loud clashing cymbals!

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord!”

Psalm 150:1-6

Written by Dr. Whitney Kelley

Why am I starting a school?

What would prompt me to throw this much energy and time into something that I am, quite frankly, not qualified to do?  I have no training in classical education, and I am one of the most skeptical Christians around. But I’m also a father, and it is amazing what you are driven to do when a heap of responsibility is thrown onto your head.

So, to answer “Why am I starting a school?”, I had to ask myself, “What do I really want for my kids?”  If I’m ultimately responsible for their education, which I do believe, then what do I want my kids to learn through their education?

What do I want for my kids?  

I want what is best for them, like any good parent.  But I don’t just want to give them all of the things they want, or the material things that I think they should have.  What I want is for them to be able to make good decisions for themselves. I want to give them the tools and training they need to clearly see the outcomes of their decisions and to live intentionally.  I think about the relationship I want with them, because I really do want a relationship with them.  I want to be able to have deep, meaningful conversations with them about how they see the world.  I want them to be able to communicate their thoughts clearly and logically. I want them to be courageous, and to speak the Truth when it needs to be said.  I want them to know who they are, to live with conviction and make decisions based on the character and virtue they have built and practiced. I want them to be leaders, not that they need to run a company or anything, but natural leaders.  When you meet people who are secure in who they are, who live their lives with purpose, and who are constantly living out their strengths, you can’t help but want to spend time around them. You feel like you are better because of who they are.  That’s what I want for my kids.

And I want them to be warriors. 

At Summit, we are warriors. What do we think about when we think of warriors?  Sure, we think of fighting in battle. But when we move past that, we see that warriors are trained and disciplined for a purpose, so that when the enemy approaches, they can defend and protect their nation, their culture, their beliefs, and their way of life.  

What are we protecting?  What are we fighting for?  

Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life”, which I don’t think I really understand.  But I think we are fighting for a way of life. The Way. I have a hard time admitting that we have a “culture” or some long-built dynasty that we are fighting for, but our community, and our beliefs are more of a way of life than I’d ever really admitted.  And we have Truth that has been written in the Scriptures. This is Truth that really is a better way to live. It has such depth and provides a great framework for how to make better decisions. How to live wisely. The life. I believe that there is evil out there, that it is coming at us, trying to take everything away… including our lives.  My life and the life of my kids. I want them to be prepared to protect their life and the lives of others, the Truth, and the way of life that Jesus has enabled.

I know that is a lot to want.  

But I’m their dad.  And like it or not, it is MY responsibility to do whatever I can to make sure they are ready.  And I’m still figuring my stuff out, but I have learned a few things. I’ve struggled with ideas about God and have found a better way to live, mostly by making a lot of mistakes.  I could just give them the Bible and say, “Here’s everything you need to know,” but I think I can do better than that. I have to try to pass on some of the things I’ve learned through my mistakes, and hopefully they won’t have to make the same ones.  

Here’s what I know.  

In this world that is constantly trying to distract us and take our attention off of what really matters, it is really difficult to prioritize time so that we are building up the most important parts of our lives.  At some point, life is going to get real, and things are going to fall apart. When that happens, will we have, will our kids have, the strong foundation to stand on? When stuff happens, what will they hold on to, to hope in?  Where will their identity be? I want them to know who they are, at their core. I want them to know they are children of God. That God created them on purpose and with a purpose. That He loves them. That He enjoys them in their unique personality, traits, strengths and perspectives.  That He wants what is best for them. If they know who they are, if they have their identity, to their core, confidently defined, they might have a chance of not only surviving this life, but living within the freedom that comes from knowing your purpose. The freedom that is only possible when we have that healthy view of ourselves and others.  We are built for relationships. I want a relationship with my kids, and I want my kids to change the world through their relationships.

Ok, so why am I starting a school?

Because I need help.  I cannot provide all of that to my kids on my own.  The core of Summit Classical Academy is in it’s partnering with parents and creating community.  I need a school that speaks Truth into my kids every day. And I need a community around me to be there when I fail.  To pick up my greatest treasure, my greatest responsibility, and train my kids when I am not available, able, or capable.

The Good Soil survey was just released 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