“the mind is not a vessel that needs filling, but wood that needs igniting”

our Key distinctives are:

METHOD

Charlotte Mason envisioned a relational education in a living environment filled with books, experiences, nature, and ideas. The child is viewed as a person, and the educator as one who cooperates with God. A relational education aims for students to grow in their love of God, others, and the world around them so that they continue to increasingly know and care about a wide array of subjects and ideas. This is why RCA has chosen the Alveary curriculum written and researched by the Charlotte Mason Institute. It is relevant to our time and place. The books chosen ignite the imagination, allowing children to enter into the stories and to recognize that even people who lived long ago and far away were not that different from themselves.

CREATION

The world God made is beautiful. However, our world is broken and we even see that brokenness in nature – trash is sometimes easier to notice in nature than the beauty it diminishes. Nature study and walks are an amazing opportunity to begin to see God’s created beauty in the midst of a world that needs God’s restoration. As students and Mentors spend time in nature, wandering, wondering, noticing and sharing, students gain a greater heart for how God desires to redeem and restore all things unto Himself. Lastly, we believe nature is the beginning of wonder and wonder leads to worship and worship leads to wisdom.

FAMILY

We believe God works through and in families to bring out his kingdom. We also understand as homeschooling parents, the importances of schooling as much as we can together as a family unit. Studying the same time period each year for all students allows families to dive deeper into the love of learning together.

ATMOSPHERE

We believe that a welcoming environment for students to call their own is a vital part of our programming. RCA is committed to creating a physical atmosphere in our schoolhouse that is warm, hospitable, and a “home away from home” for our students.

REST

Home education can be a heavy calling and one that parents take seriously. Time with our children at home should be protected. RCA strives to honor this unique calling by supporting and strengthening the home educator by not adding to the many lists of “to-do’s.” That said, RCA is committed to no outside school work from students. All work RCA offers is done together in real time providing rest to the home and true accountability to our enrolled learners.

our missional distinctives are:

FAITH

Everything that we do and teach is grounded in a Biblical worldview and founded in the truth of God’s Word. Any opportunity to point student to Jesus Christ we will take.

STORY

Not only is every subject presented at RCA approached narratively through engaging stories but RCA celebrates the unique God-given story of each child. As each student grows, RCA believes it is our duty to point out how each individual is apart of one larger, grander, story of God’s redemptive plan for a hurting world.

IMAGEBEARERS

Each person is made in the image of God and deserves the utmost respect. Charlotte Mason stated that, “children are born persons.” They are not blank slates who have the potential of becoming persons. They already are persons. When we do not appreciate what it means that a child is a person with both a brain and mind our educational efforts will go astray.

RELATIONSHIPS

We are all about relationships! As we look at scripture to shape our ideals, fostering godly friendships and building a trusting community of Christian believers is of the utmost importance. Relationships are formed and deepened as we do “life together” as a community of like-minded families.

HOME

We believe a way to help point children to Jesus Christ is to help Christian parents protect and strengthen their home. RCA offers the benefits of christian school while allowing students to spend significant time with their family. We believe that the home is the greatest mission field as parents’ primary charge is to make disciples of those who sit around their kitchen table.