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CLASSICAL INFO NIGHT

St. Thomas Catholic School – Sanford, Maine

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AGENDA

  • Introduction & Prayer
  • What is Classical Education?
  • Classical Education in Practice
  • Q & A / Conclusion

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WHAT IS CLASSICAL EDUCATION?

Classical education begins with the concept that we are all created in the image of God to share in his divinity.

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In sum:

“Every child deserves a formative education in which their sense of wonder is nurtured; their virtues, particularly their intellectual virtues, are developed; and their longings to seek the truth, desire the good, and love the beautiful are cultivated” (Ortner & Begg, 2025).

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Classical education is most naturally and completely done in a Catholic school where it is nurtured by the sacraments and through the values that we instill in our students.

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ELEMENTS OF CLASSICAL EDUCATION

Intellect

Instead of teaching a student what to think, they are taught how to think. The classical model is rigorous and requires self-discipline, and it trains students to be analytical; to draw conclusions while fostering curiosity and love of learning.  

Character

Students learn wisdom and virtue through the pursuit of truth, goodness, and beauty found in great works of literature, history, philosophy, and science.

Spirit

Students learn the four pillars of the Catechism (Creed, Sacraments, Morality, and Prayer) at a level appropriate to their development.  

Frequent and faithful participation in the Sacramental life is emphasized – especially the Mass.

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THE TRIVIUM MODEL, STAGES:

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  • Rhetoric (Gr. 9-12)
    • Craft persuasive arguments, honing eloquent expression in writing and speech, present orations or essays
  • Dialectic (Logic) (Gr. 5-8)
    • Learning to take their knowledge and apply reason, to debate, and identify fallacies (logic exercises, analyzing arguments, etc.)
  • Grammar (PK-5)
    • Mastering language skills, facts, foundational knowledge (e.g., Latin, memorization of poetry, math facts, historical timelines).

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BY THE NUMBERS

How Classical Models are Transforming Catholic Schools

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“SINCE 2020, THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 200 NEW CATHOLIC ‘CLASSICAL’ SCHOOLS ESTABLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES AND A 78% ENROLLMENT INCREASE IN ESTABLISHED CLASSICAL ACADEMIES…THERE HAS BEEN –WITHOUT A DOUBT- A TSUNAMI OF INTEREST IN CATHOLIC CLASSICAL EDUCATION.” �RICHARD MELOCHE, EXPLORING THE NEW SPRINGTIME FOR CATHOLIC CLASSICAL EDUCATION

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SPRINGTIME FOR CLASSICAL EDUCATION

  • Between 2019 and 2023, 264 new classical schools were started and existing classical schools experienced enrollment increases.

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  • Arcadia Education forecasts that by 2035, 1.4 million K-12 students will be enrolled in a classical school. That would translate to 2.4% of all K-12 students nationwide.

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Keri D. Ingraham, The Surging Growth of K-12 Classical Education

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IN PRACTICE

What to Expect in the Fall

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A Classical Education Classroom

Disciplined

Intellectually Rigorous

Value-Oriented Environment Rooted in the Catholic Faith & Tradition

Classical educations emphasizes the pursuit of truth, beauty, and goodness through a structured curriculum that draws from the Great Books, Socratic dialogue, and the trivium (grammar, logic, rhetoric = development stages).

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MIDDLE SCHOOL: LOGIC STAGE

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  • Ordered & focused environment (intentional physical/cultural space, minimal distractions)

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  • Teachers as guides (inquiry-based, discussion, Socratic seminars)

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  • Moral & civic virtue (character + intellect, discussion regarding ethics, justice, responsibility to form thoughtful, wise citizens)

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MIDDLE SCHOOL: LOGIC STAGE

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  • Integration of subjects (unity of knowledge, example: Renaissance)

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  • Primary, original texts (Plato, Dante, Shakespeare, Euclid, Augustine, Locke, etc.)

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  • Assessment through discourse and writing (essays, oral defenses or debates, etc.)

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MIDDLE SCHOOL: LOGIC STAGE

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A classical classroom is a living conversation with the greatest minds of the past, where students learn to think deeply, speak persuasively, and live virtuously.

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It’s less about accumulating facts and more about forming a soul capable of wrestling with life’s biggest questions.

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Service

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Service Above Self

  • Emphasis on service-learning, leadership, and values
  • We are the hearts and hands of Christ
  • A presence in the community:
    • Trafton Center
    • Holy Family Church
    • Food Distribution
    • Backpack Program

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Q & A

Comments, Questions?

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