What Is Classical Learning St. Igntious Kaukauna Wi

Nathan Vande Hey is headmaster of St. Ignatius Cosmic School in Kaukauna. The classical school expanded its admission to grades nine through 12. (Amanda Lauer | For The Compass)

KAUKAUNA — When Nathan Vande Hey interviewed for the position as headmaster of St. Ignatius Catholic School in Kaukauna in 2019, he shared his vision for the hereafter of the classical course school. "If we're really going to do this right, we really should have a loftier school," he said.

Because that the 3K-8 schoolhouse had only been open iv years, the school board bought into his vision. "When nosotros went through the strategic planning the start couple months that I was here, it came out very conspicuously that that'south what we really needed to do," he said.

Earlier taking the position as headmaster at St. Ignatius, Vande Hey was a sixth-grade teacher in the Kaukauna public school organization. "I had done tons of research on classical instruction," he said. The intent was to beginning a charter classical high schoolhouse in the public school system, but that never came to fruition. However, the information he'd gathered was instrumental as St. Ignatius pursued opening a high school.

"We did some homework and the Chesterton University aligned so well with what we're already doing," he said. "We desire to exist a place of joy in this schoolhouse. Nosotros're joyfully Catholic."

The pandemic pushed the time frame dorsum a scrap, simply this fall St. Ignatius Chesterton Academy is opening its doors and will welcome students in grades nine through 12 in the same building that houses St. Ignatius Catholic School.

On Aug. eighteen, Bishop David Ricken presided at a ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony for St. Ignatius Chesterton Academy. "I've long supported classical schools. The rich curriculum will aid students find their identify in Jesus' mission," he said. "I feel confident that St. Ignatius Chesterton Academy will foster intentional disciples of Christ."

Vande Hey explained the concept of their school system as a whole. "We are pursuing the good, the true and the cute because all those things direct us to God. We really focus on the nuts," he said. "Up to form six, nosotros focus on grammar, nosotros teach Latin, and we teach Spanish too. The logic stage is in our heart schoolhouse area — we really give the kids some physical tools to work with. Our kids know all 33 logical fallacies. It really helps you pursue the truth."

The next phase of classical education is the school of rhetoric. "In about 10th grade, we give students physical tools of how to speak and how to write. 'How practise we communicate the truth?'" he explained.

Promoting a culture of life is an integral part of the Chesterton University. "The church is pro-life. We're not going to have a pro-life club — the school is pro-life. We really want to bring out what it means to live life fully," said Vande Hey.

A Chesterton Academy is meant to exist affordable. "If you're going to be pro-life and have big families, how can you spend $10,000 a year per kid on a high school? We want to accept everybody, regardless of economic status," said Vande Hey, who is the male parent of 11. 2 of his children will attend the classical loftier school this year.

Enrollment at St. Ignatius Catholic Schoolhouse has increased significantly since Vande Hey became headmaster. There are more than 225 students enrolled in the class school and around 30 high schoolers, which is double what they anticipated for their inaugural year. They are drawing families from a widespread area, equally far abroad as Winneconne, Stephensville, Neenah, Brillion, De Pere and Hilbert.

Students from whatever type of school setting — public or individual — regardless of class, tin can make the switch to St. Ignatius. "Chesterton Academy designed a program that, even if you had no classical teaching, y'all'll be able to get started," he said.

The academy offers a directed high school curriculum. "The freshman twelvemonth is, 'Where is God?' and so the kids read the Sometime Attestation, they study (ancient civilizations), they read The Iliad and The Odyssey, and they report Aristotle in philosophy course, even astronomy.

The other school year themes include:

Sophomore year: "Jesus is God." They read St. Augustine and the New Testament.

Inferior twelvemonth: "What is God's or Jesus' impact on the world?"

Senior year: "What's your place in the mission?" They end the year with "The Everlasting Human being" past G.K. Chesterton.

Vande Hey said classical educational activity "puts ideas together to see how things are continued, as opposed to putting everything in a silo."

"We utilise the Socratic method. Information technology's been tried and true for ii,500 years because it works," he said. "It allows people to explore and inquire the big questions and it'southward a safe environment for kids to challenge, to really make that idea their ain. It's kind of a lost art and we're trying to reclaim that and use that here."

Every student in the high school volition participate in the arts, including argue, drama and music classes. Extracurricular sports are available, with plans for St. Ignatius Catholic High Schoolhouse to co-op with a local public high school to play sports that need a higher number of participants to course a team.

While parents appreciate the idea of a classical education for their children, that's not the primary reason for choosing St. Ignatius, said Vande Hey. "The Catholic identity was the No. 1 thing parents are looking for. They desire a school where their child tin grow in prayer and grow as a Catholic disciple. They want their children to encounter Jesus every day at school," he said.

Students get exactly that. Upperclassmen attend daily Mass. On Mondays, all of the students take the opportunity to go to eucharistic adoration. The middle school students have been praying the Liturgy of the Hours every morn since the grade schoolhouse opened.