To a large extent, true Catholic education has always been classical, in the sense that the Liberal Arts Tradition was born in the monasteries of the Catholic Church, and later refined by the first universities the Church established. Despite this apparent redundancy, it is certainly true that, starting in the latter half of the 20th century, a lot of Catholic schools jettisoned this wonderful tradition and began adopting many of the educational fads of secular schools.
Hence, there has been a perceived need among many leaders to "get back to the basics" and recover this lost legacy of Catholic liberal education. As a result, the term Classical Catholic Education has become a fixture on the cutting-edge of educational reform. Along with the New Evangelization, that has the laity assuming a greater role in spreading the Gospel, the classical school movement has become a critical part of the overall effort to revitalize the Catholic Church in the 21st Century, and we are proud to be part of this exciting trend.
Catholic Identity
Put first things first. That's a good a way to live, and what guides us at SFCCA, for Christ is the source and summit of all we hope to accomplish for your children. What that means in practical terms is that we take our Catholic faith seriously, placing prayer, worship, and devotion at the heart of our instructional day. And before one jumps to the conclusion that all that prayer makes for a morose atmosphere, think again, as we do all of that with a smile on our face, joy in our hearts, and wonder in our souls. By truly living the liturgical calendar, with its beautiful rhythm of feasts and fasts, saint days and holidays, children come to view their faith not as a burden, but as a wonderful opportunity to better know both the Lord and their friends. Catholicism, in short, is a lot of fun!
Beyond the sheer joy and wonder of Catholicism, we are also motivated by the insight that in these challenging times, people of faith must become more intentional about living-out their faith every day of the week, which can only happen when we are part of a community of believers who are there for each other in good times and in bad. That's why we go to Church as much as we can, and if we cannot attend Mass, we are praying a Rosary together, reading the Bible, learning about the Saint of the Day, and taking our children on pilgrimages, retreats, mission trips, and field trips. We also hope to be a focal point of Catholic life for our community, hosting a variety of fellowship opportunities like book and supper clubs, lecture series, Bible studies, and celebratory events.
The Classical Model
We cycle our children twice through the major eras of the western experience (Ancient, Medieval, Modern European, Modern American), allowing age-appropriate mastery of the major institutions and cultural achievements of our civilization.
Our Great Books Humanities curriculum is complimented by rigorous instruction in phonics, spelling, handwriting, and Latin.
Students also learn the fundamentals of their faith through a deep dive into the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Math and Science instruction are of equal rigor and priority, and art, music, and athletics round-out our commitment to truth, goodness, and beauty.