St. Johns Classical Academy provides a distinctive K-10 educational option currently unavailable through Clay Public Schools for families in the Clay County area. An emphasis on literacy in all areas is the cornerstone of classical education, and classical education will well prepare students for success in an advanced study through a systematic approach to training students’ minds and character. The classical content of our curriculum refers to those traditional works of literature, history, and philosophy that embody perennial truths of the human
The classical content of our curriculum refers to those traditional works of literature, history, and philosophy that embody perennial truths of the human soul and which remain compelling because they present these truths in memorable, or beautiful, ways. These classics are admired not because they are old; rather they are admired because they have continued to ring true with people of many eras, cultures, and tongues. The classics provide the most thoughtful reflections on the meaning and potential of human life. They introduce students into a conversation that spans centuries and millennia.
The liberal arts content of our curriculum includes an approach to learning that empowers individuals and prepares them to deal with complexity, diversity, and change. It provides students with a broad knowledge of the wider world (e.g. science, culture, and society). A liberal arts education helps students develop a sense of civic responsibility, as well as strong and transferable intellectual and practical skills such as communication, analytical and problem-solving skills, and a demonstrated ability to apply knowledge and skills in real-world settings.
- Values knowledge for its own sake
- Upholds the standards of correctness, logic, beauty, and importance intrinsic to the liberal arts
- Demands moral virtue of its adherents
- Prepares human beings to assume their places as responsible citizens in the political order
Classical Education uses history as its organizing principle. For example, when students study Ancient Greece, they concurrently study Ancient Grecian art, music and literature. As students progress through the curriculum, they are able to build from a broader to a deeper understanding of history, work with more sophisticated texts and develop a clearer concept of how ideas have unfolded over time.
A classical education holds literacy, numeracy, cultural literacy, moral virtue, and tradition at its heart.
At its core, classical education is:
Adherence to a clear process allows for effective coordination of instructional resources and for measurement of student progress toward goals.
To proceed through stages, students must master the expected material or skills inherent in each stage.
Information Regarding General Curricula
The St. Johns Classical Academy Founding Board has established the following educational priorities for its students:
- Basic Cognitive Skills
- Reading, Writing, and Mathematics
- Core Subjects
- English Language and Literature, History, Geography, and Government; Physical and Biological Sciences; Mathematics.
- Other Classical Subjects
- Music; Art; Latin
- Auxiliary Subjects
- Foreign Languages, Physical Education, Performing Arts, other Social Sciences
- Extracurricular activities to support the mission of the school as defined by the administrative team.
Several very unique innovations characterize St. Johns Classical Academy:
- All students will study Latin roots to facilitate reading comprehension and vocabulary and bolster performance in all subjects.
- Upper-level students will study history mainly through primary source documents to foster analytical skills and essential insight into their culture and heritage.
- All students will be trained in study skills such as time management, organization, note-taking and research that are essential for building stamina for further academic pursuits.
- The intent to instill virtues of character in the lower grades through the classical virtues: courtesy, perseverance, self-government, service, honesty, and courage.
- Instruction in the classical virtues (prudence, justice, temperance, and fortitude) will be introduced in the upper grades as a continuance of the elementary character program and necessary support of the classical curriculum.