Trivium Academy Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 We're now in SC- yesterday I found a Classical Academy that has small classes, really it seems an in-between of homeschooling and public school but leans more towards homeschooling. They use Core Knowledge, have Latin (Latina Christiana and other supplements such as Minimus), music and art. I talked to the director yesterday and I was so grateful to have found a school for both kids that is affordable. Considering I've never done this before, what should questions should I be asking? They're run out of a Lutheran church, the school is 3 years old, PreK-8th. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 This sounds wonderful. I hope it works out for you and your children. :) Considering I've never done this before, what should questions should I be asking? They're run out of a Lutheran church, the school is 3 years old, PreK-8th.Aside from academics, you'll want to know about staff screening procedures (not just teachers). There's a section on this in Protecting the Gift. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KidsHappen Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Congratulations, Jessica. I am so glad to hear this and I hope that everything works out great for you guys. I don't know much about schools but this certainly sounds like a good one. Jack is doing great by the way. I have been meaning to send you an email update but have been so busy I haven't gotten around to it. I will try to get to that later today. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dayle in Guatemala Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 What an answer to prayer!!!! Yeah God!!!! I second the staff screening procedures. Also, I would want to know about parental involvement. Alot of small private schools expect volunteer hours from the parents. Is it an amount you can commit to without feeling overwhelmed? :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84110&highlight=schools+questions+laura Best of luck Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alessandra Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 That is wonderful news -- you really got going fast! Core Knowledge is a program we have used for several years. I think it could work very well if you wanted to add some extra CK materials into your afterschooling -- didn't you mention that on your blog? Best of luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G5052 Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 So much of being happy at a private school seems to be becoming part of the culture there. We have a number of private schools in this area, and I don't think we'd frankly fit in at any of them. I'm also one that abhors fundraising, and if you send them to private school, keep in mind that the tuition is usually not the whole story. To keep going they generally have to charge for bits-and-pieces and constantly be having "pizza day," yard sales, etc. It's staggering to me how much the parents have to participate in that type of thing. Maybe your area is different, but it's big here. Small church schools can be good if there's a spirit of co-operation, but if they're mostly about that church and not open to others, it can be agony. Your children are young, but from what I've been told, there's also a tendancy in Christian schools to be "nice" and not as academically rigorous. The largest Christian school in our area is lovely and provides a great environment, but it's just not very demanding IMHO and we're at the stage where that's important to me. If push-came-to-shove, I'd choose a so-so Christian school over public school for my children though. I hope that you find out what you need to know! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammy Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Wow....I was born and raised in Charleston......! Good luck to ya! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brigitte Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 To keep going they generally have to charge for bits-and-pieces and constantly be having "pizza day," yard sales, etc. That is true in the public schools, too. At least every place I have lived, the public school kids are always selling stuff as fundraisers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harriet Vane Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 I am glad to hear you have found such a strong option. Continuing in prayer for you . . . :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovemywhirlygirls Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Praying you get some time to REST among all of the huge life changes you have going on. You are clearly a very strong, focused and capable woman. Hope you get to rest and breath and have the space feel the lightening of your load as details come together. There are several things I'd want to know at a new school like this. We were part of a newly founded little church related school when my older girls were younger and it was wonderful in a lot of ways, but because it was a small, new school there was a lot of expectation and....dare I say responsibility....for how the school did which was placed on the families in the form of LOTS of volunteering and fundraising etc. It made sense, but added to everything else on one's plate and how much we had to pay per child, it was too much. Also, my oldest was in a class of 8 kids which sounds great at first, but it was a nightmare. Only 3 girls and that did.not.go.well. We loved the teachers and the principle and the idea of the school, but homeschooling works much better for us. Note that we have only 3 girls (LOL), but somehow it works out. :D Imagine that. Wishing you every good thing, Jessica. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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