“the mind is not a vessel that needs filling, but wood that needs igniting”
Plutarch
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
THE FOUNDATION THAT UNITE US:
COMMUNITY
By definition education is the process of receiving or giving systematic instruction and community is a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals. Therefore, home educating alongside a Christian Community is an asset to the Christian family. We strive to strengthen each other in our faith and our goals in Christian love as we walk the common path. We encourage community by means of weekly assemblies in hopes that all involved will develop meaningful relationships with one another.
CONTENT
The curriculum content of RCA is very selective, well-researched, and thought through. It is important to give our children and families the very best content to provide a meaningful academic feast. RCA chooses Charlotte Mason methods because it encourages academic excellence by teaching children how to learn and think through reading living books that have stood the test of time.
CULTURE
Our community will cultivate an environment full of delight, peace, and refreshment over time. This will begin with our adoration of God at our center, supportive parents, and inspired mentors, all of which will flow into our student body. A cooperative culture will develop as students, parents, and mentors alike do their part faithfully and in love. The culture of RCA will be shaped by Ecclesiastical traditions, unity, beauty and worship which will be embedded in the rhythms, routines, practices and traditions of our community.
COMPETENCY
Being rooted in the classical tradition means that certain values and practices will characterize our approach. First, we will not be unnecessarily hurried. Second, depth is preferable over breadth. Third, living ideas come from living books. And fourth, we will seek to embody the wisdom and knowledge of our curriculum through our practice of community, in the songs we sing, and in fostering an ongoing posture of wonder and curiosity toward God’s world. To make this come to fruition, RCA will hire excellent and highly competent Mentors/parents who will embody these ideals in their classrooms who have been trained and exhibit a love of Jesus Christ and a love of learning.
By definition education is the process of receiving or giving systematic instruction and community is a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals. Therefore, home educating alongside a Christian Community is an asset to the Christian family. We strive to strengthen each other in our faith and our goals in Christian love as we walk the common path. We encourage community by means of weekly assemblies in hopes that all involved will develop meaningful relationships with one another.
CONTENT
The curriculum content of RCA is very selective, well-researched, and thought through. It is important to give our children and families the very best content to provide a meaningful academic feast. RCA chooses Charlotte Mason methods because it encourages academic excellence by teaching children how to learn and think through reading living books that have stood the test of time.
CULTURE
Our community will cultivate an environment full of delight, peace, and refreshment over time. This will begin with our adoration of God at our center, supportive parents, and inspired mentors, all of which will flow into our student body. A cooperative culture will develop as students, parents, and mentors alike do their part faithfully and in love. The culture of RCA will be shaped by Ecclesiastical traditions, unity, beauty and worship which will be embedded in the rhythms, routines, practices and traditions of our community.
COMPETENCY
Being rooted in the classical tradition means that certain values and practices will characterize our approach. First, we will not be unnecessarily hurried. Second, depth is preferable over breadth. Third, living ideas come from living books. And fourth, we will seek to embody the wisdom and knowledge of our curriculum through our practice of community, in the songs we sing, and in fostering an ongoing posture of wonder and curiosity toward God’s world. To make this come to fruition, RCA will hire excellent and highly competent Mentors/parents who will embody these ideals in their classrooms who have been trained and exhibit a love of Jesus Christ and a love of learning.