Five Pillars

Classical education

The classical method of education is a three-stage approach to instruction with the goal of producing graduates who have mastered the art of learning so that they may skillfully acquire and apply knowledge, reason critically, and articulate persuasively. Sometimes referred to as the Trivium (Latin for “three ways”), this approach consists of the grammar, logic, and rhetoric stages, with each stage building upon its predecessor.
 
Basic factual content and rules—the grammar—of any given subject must first be mastered; then an understanding of how to apply the facts—the logic—must be discerned; and finally, the ability to synthesize the foregoing into an articulate argument—the rhetoric—must be developed. The biblical equivalent to this progression is found in the admonition to pursue knowledge, understanding, and wisdom.
 
Classical education organizes learning around the maturing capacity of the child’s mind. The curricular emphasis during the grammar school years is on learning basic facts and figures during the time when children love to memorize (and when they are best at doing so). The subsequent emphasis during the middle school years on logic and analysis trains students to think critically and deeply about subjects both academic and otherwise. This emphasis corresponds with the middle-school student’s bent toward exploration and inquiry. Finally, the emphasis during the high school years shifts toward honing rhetorical skills, including writing. This shift prepares students to write college-level theses, utilizing their grasp of proper grammar as well their ability to think logically and critically. The structure of the Trivium recognizes that though there is much overlap, an ideal time and place exists for each part of learning: memorization, argumentation, and self-expression. 

Christian worldview

Education is never neutral. It is more than the mere transmission of facts; it involves the communication of life principles and values and, therefore, requires a spiritual context. Because God created, sustains and will consummate all things through His Son, Jesus Christ, we believe that facts must be taught in the context of a biblical worldview if they are to accurately convey truth. This belief permeates our goals and objectives, our teaching methods, and our curriculum.

Wisdom and virtue become an integral part of student formation when we let the light of Scripture shine through the great ideas of Western civilization. This also forces the focus of education to shift from what we know to who we are becoming. 

As a private, Christian school and an independently governed 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Veritas is not a ministry of any particular church or denominational body, nor does it promote or endorse any particular denomination. It is our desire to maintain this position for the purpose of unity and fairness to each student, avoiding any dissension that may be caused by denominational distinctives. As a Christian organization, our unity is based on our shared beliefs in the core tenants of Christianity as expressed in the Veritas Academy Statements on Faith, Life, and Conduct and in our traditional, orthodox interpretation of scripture. In this community, all board, faculty, staff, and parents profess faith in Jesus Christ and are active participants in a local, Christian church whose core beliefs are also consistent with those expressed in our Statements. 

Collaborative Model

The collaborative University-Model^® integrates challenging academics, student activities, and Christ-like character development and affirms the parents’ role as the primary influence in their children’s lives by redirecting time from the school to the family. The collaborative approach employs a university-style schedule adapted to the elementary, junior, and senior high levels. Paid professional teachers teaching in their areas of expertise conduct central classroom instruction.

Grammar school students attend classes two days per week, while older students attend school three to five days per week. Students spend alternate days at home where parents continue the instruction or monitor student progress. Teachers provide parents with detailed lesson plans and instructions for days spent at home. Parents need not have teaching experience, but must commit the time to actively engage, direct, instruct, and mentor their students.

The collaborative approach caters to a wide variety of student needs by allowing a range of enrollment and course request opportunities. Much like courses listed in a college catalog, each course description contains information about the course, prerequisites, and parental involvement required for that class. Students are able to choose from a variety of course and schedule options; however, in order to receive a diploma from Veritas Academy, certain residency and course credit requirements must be met.
 

Family Ministries

The purpose of Family Ministries is to strengthen our families by effectively partnering with them.  We unite together with parents around the school’s mission and shared core values in order to equip parents in their efforts to establish homes that powerfully support mental, emotional, and spiritual growth. 
 
Ongoing family ministry training and support are offered to all constituents of the school and are rooted in the following core values:

1. We desire to love God, to allow His love to flow through us to others, and to place our trust and security in Him. 
2. We will focus on practices that reach and influence the hearts of our children rather than settling for behavior management approaches that focus on external actions. 
3. We recognize that we are all in need of discipleship and mentorship.  
4. We discipline our children with an approach that is redemptive, and not punitive in nature; we will embrace our parental authority in loving ways.
5. We are all in the process of growing and learning; complacency is not an option.
6. We will foster and model a grateful, forgiving culture. 
7. We will purpose to develop hearts and minds at rest amidst a culture full of distractions.
8. We will put our hope in Christ, who is the anchor of our souls.  

Resource School

God has tremendously blessed Veritas Academy, and in return, it is our desire to freely give and to support other like-minded schools across the nation.  Nearly every month, Veritas connects with or hosts representatives from classical, collaborative schools and start-ups across the nation and globe.  Be on the lookout throughout the year as you will likely encounter some of these visitors, and even have the opportunity to share with them about Veritas.