WHY I LOVE OUR SCHOOL

In preparing our home, our kids (and my mind) for the first day of school tomorrow, I began to think about this post that I shared last April. It sums up everything I love about our school. I'm so sad that summer is officially over. It has been a great one - full of fun, memories, rest and a time of regrouping. My kids work sooo hard throughout the school year that summer has become quite a treasure. But we are all ready, rested, and looking forward to another great school year - so here is a "reposted post" about all the things I cherish about my girls' school......

Our kids attend a classical school, which to sum it up very briefly, they are educated in a modern yet "classical" style, studying great works of literature, study in great depth history from the beginning of time to present, memorize pieces so large that it is mind boggling, study years ahead in math continually reviewing every math concept. Something like you would picture education in the 1800's to be, yet modernized and fun. Most importantly, every aspect of their school day is steeped in relating it all back to our Creator. He is the One who created literature, math, logic, art, music, science. They don't just have "Bible" class on top of their curriculum. It is integrated into every part of their day. They pray earnestly for each other, all the time. I am so thankful for this - my kids see the world in an entirely different light than I did as a child, even though I was raised in a christian home. When I think of our school and the education my children are receiving, these are some of the things that come to my mind....

• When an adult enters the classroom, seeing all the children stand out of respect for that adult, and hearing a cheerful "Good afternoon Mrs O'Steen" yet it is never a distraction.
• Having the entire school in one room for things such as memory period, or chapel, and there is absolute silence and reverence, with a respect for teachers and each other that is rarely found these days.
• At the same time that there is such order and respect, there is also such fun and learning - walking through the hall and hearing the second grade class jamming and dancing away while singing "Pharaoh, Pharaoh -oooooohhhhh - LET MY PEOPLE GO! HUH! Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!!!!"
• Knowing that when school starts, the Headmaster (principal) touches every childs desk and prays for that child.
• Having a chat with one of their teachers, who invest so much into every child and love them like their own, when I realize they have discovered things about my kids that I never even knew.
• Having my second grader be completely in love with anything and everything Ancient Egypt.
• Hearing them recite such lengthy (and powerful) bible passages as a school body, that I continually fight tears, and then hearing them recite it in Latin.
• Watching and hearing my kids recite The Declaration of Independence, standing in the same exact room in Philadelphia where the actual Declaration was signed.
• Watching and hearing them recite the Gettysburg Address, while they are standing on the battlefield at Gettysburg.
• Exploring so many places together, such as Jamestown, Mt. Vernon, seeing the Liberty Bell, the homesite of Benjamin Franklin and so many museums.
• Knowing that these great minds in history of which they learn so much about were actually Classically Educated themselves.
• Seeing them learn how to be "servant leaders" with a christian worldview in a fallen world.
• The memory of them "manning" the wooden turn of the century ship "The Sultana" on the Chesapeake Bay.
• Hearing my girls have discussions at home about the Bible, Latin, or even grammar rules and parts of speech, and I have no clue what they are even talking about!
• My eight-year-old recently realizing that prayer and "God" are not allowed in public places and not even being able to fully comprehend that fact.
• Kirsten teaching me about Logic and the Law of the Fallacy of Presumption (which apparently I do entirely too much).
• Knowing that my children and their classmates pray for their families every day, and feeling those prayers throughout the day.
• Knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I couldn't find a more Godly, academically excellent, loving, nurturing environment for my children.

Embracing everything Egyptian

Mesmerized by the canopic jars, and knowing (to the surprise of the tour guide) exactly what they were used for. Playing football on the front lawn at Mt. Vernon. Reciting the Declaration of Independence in Independence Hall in Philadelphia. One of the many famous battle sites in Gettysburg (I should know this, but don't - just ask my kids - they know). Reciting "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere" in Jamestown. Experiencing the battlefield. Reciting something (??) while waiting to see Independence Hall. I find it so amusing that they will just break out in these recitations out of the blue, with no prompting, and it attracts quite the crowd in pubic places. (Probably their motivation). Exploring a ship at Jamestown.

Such love.

Happy Back to School Days!!!