Online Parent Handbook |
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Introduction and Overview |
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Curriculum Overview |
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How We Teach, How Students Learn |
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Assignment Expectations |
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Materials |
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The Whole - PAideia - Child |
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Parent Education |
When ancient Greeks spoke of “Paideia,” they were referring to every aspect in the education of a child. This included not only reading, writing and mathematics, but also gymnastics, logic, rhetoric, poetry, music, astronomy, ethics, and philosophy. Their ideas of civilization, tradition, and culture laced through the concept. Beginning with Plato, the idea of ‘Paideia’ originated in an ideal form (or model) of an educated, thinking child, and moved toward what that idea would look like in practicality. Plato believed in a deeper reality than what was merely seen and felt, and thought that true education would probe all reality.
In the flow of history, the Christian Church Fathers continued Plato’s search for deep, profound truth as a goal of education, and included theology in the curriculum. They considered that knowing God is a Christian human’s highest aspiration; Christianity added the nobility of being a child of God to Plato’s ideal human child. Training a child’s character into the likeness of Christ included wisdom in both knowledge about this world and in the knowledge of God.
Hence, the name of our school defines our corporate mission. We aim to take the rudiments of literacy and build upward towards informed delight in all that flourishes because of God’s creativity.
Christian paideia was the system of education in the faith that the early Christians created through a combination of Biblical revelation and the cultural patterns suggested by Hellenistic literature and philosophy, that is, Greek paideia. It had as its objective the achieving of the wisdom of God, through spiritual formation under the divine Pedagogue, the Logos or Word of God. Christian paideia looked to the formation of character and appreciation of virtues as much as it did the acquisition of knowledge. Its final aim was the true knowledge—Christian philosophy or worldview— whose end was fellowship and imitation of Jesus Christ.
Dr. Davey Naugle,
Dallas Baptist University
The concept of citizenship is an important component of the Paideia philosophy. Students have an opportunity each class day to contribute to the common good of the school community. This is accomplished by carrying out assigned tasks throughout the day.
A “citizen” takes pride in his environment while a “tourist” is just visiting. Each Paideia student is a citizen of their school and as a student, each is assigned specific jobs that will help campus life. Citizenship jobs also nurture an attitude of “giving” back and not always “receiving” which is another Paideia core value.
All students (citizens) contribute to the common good of the campus. These jobs may include setting up and taking down chairs and tables, computers and projectors, taking out trash, vacuuming floors, helping with younger students and assisting with various tasks throughout the day. The Building Liaison assigns special tasks to students at the first of the school year, and checks each day to make sure they are completed. If necessary, fines may be accessed to citizens who fail to uphold their citizenship responsibilities.
-Ted Seago
Several times each year all PAideia campuses come together for social and/or academic special events. Sometimes a local campus hosts the occasion, and sometimes we all go somewhere special together. Memories, friends, and scholarship are each part of the Paideia—the whole learning experience— and we thrive on them.
Memories, friends, and scholarship are each part of the PAideia—the whole learning experience—and we thrive on them.
Campuses begin each day with a quiet, meditative time before Chapel. Although the personality of each campus influences what this first assembly of the day looks like, common activities include quiet reflection, prayer, singing, a devotional meditation, Scripture memory recitation, and responses from the Shorter Westminster Catechism. Some of these activities are student-led, allowing leadership abilities to emerge.
After Chapel, the headmaster or other staff make announcements and introduce the Convocation group for the day. Older students are responsible to take notes in Convocation, and the presenter provides a coloring or activity page for younger students.
As the opening assembly time draws to a close, students may sign up and pay for lunch before being dismissed by groups to their classes.
Older students A-E are responsible to put their homework folders into graders’ crates as soon as they arrive on campus. The graders for each class collect the homework folders very early, usually just as chapel is beginning, and work on checking assignments all day long. As the graders finish evaluating the homework, they return it to the family crates which are lined in alphabetical order down the hallways.
Family crates often function as a family “locker” - extra books, school supplies, and even lunch boxes can be kept here. Lost and found items, if labeled, can be returned to the family crate.
Be sure you remember to pick your crate up as you leave for the day.
LGR students put their backpacks in their classroom as they arrive.
Lunch is a cheerful, informal time when students develop friendships. You may pack a lunch for your children or purchase one on campus. The food-services director on each campus prepares a hot lunch for students and staff every week. The menu is usually announced a month at a time in the newsletter, and students sign up and purchase the meal at the end of chapel each week.
The “lunch lady” on some campuses has breakfast and snack items for sale, also.
Students are NEVER allowed to chat, text or talk over cell phones, computers, Ipads, or any other device during school, including having a Facebook window open. If this rule is ignored, the device will be immediately taken up by the headmaster or teacher and kept until the end of the day.
However, the legitimate use of electronic devices for study is allowable at the discretion of each individual teacher. In the event of a family emergency or family change in plans, do NOT call your student directly. Obviously, buzzing or ring tones would disrupt the class significantly. If a teacher has chosen to allow electronic devices, the students must keep their phone/computer on silent and may not receive incoming calls or texts. You may call the headmaster, and he/she will immediately deliver your message.
And for the romance part: No. Not any, ever on campus or at any school event. Selfcontrol is a part of PAideia Education. Do not expect flexibility on this one. After graduation, however, we will help all we can.
Your Campus Communicator sends a weekly newsletter on the day after your campus meets. Teachers send all assignment changes and updates through ENGRADE, so students and parents should check their account there very carefully.
The campus newsletter notes announcements, upcoming events, used uniforms for sale, sources for materials, or items to bring for a class project. All campus-wide information flows in and out through the Campus Communicator.
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PACES and the PAideia Classical Education Program do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic
origin, or sex in the administration of its policies, admissions, financial aid, and other school-directed programs.
