HANDBOOK The Classical Academy of Sarasota Handbook SECTION I: SCHOOL DIRECTORY HOW TO CONTACT THE CLASSICAL ACADEMY OF SARASOTA School Phone Number.........................................941-925-2153 School Fax Line...................................................941-377-7166 School Address....................................................8751 Fruitville Road, Sarasota, FL 34240 School Web Page ................................................www.tcasarasota.com School E-Mail Address [email protected] **Handbook adapted with permission from Hillsdale College 2 The Classical Academy of Sarasota Handbook Dear Parents and Students, Welcome to The Classical Academy of Sarasota. We are glad that you have chosen a TCA education and we are convinced that you have made a good choice. At TCA, our students learn from the masters. From Aesop and George Washington in kindergarten, Michelangelo and Beethoven in fifth grade, and The Federalist Papers and modern science in upper school, our teachers lead their students to the riches of the Western Tradition. It is our conviction that all students can and should learn about the events, documents, and discoveries which have shaped our tradition and led us to where we are today. A basic premise of classical education is that we have much to learn from our ancestors, especially those who made history. Studying the culture- shaping events, texts, theories, works of art, and biographies that came before us, slowly creates a background in front of which our students begin to understand the events of today. In addition, or rather, as a condition of becoming culturally literate, we hold that our students ought to be good human beings. Intelligence and learning by themselves do not necessitate goodness. Therefore, our students ought to be honest, respectful, full of integrity and perseverance; they ought to cooperate with others, be responsible, and display citizenship and courage in their daily lives. Virtue is more than an adornment of a classical education; it is its conditio sine qua non (an indispensable condition). It is only fitting, therefore, that the mission of our school is to hold everyone to high academic and ethical standards. We know that elevating the minds and character of our students is neither an easy task nor is it guaranteed to succeed. Any time we transcend the status quo, we have to seek out a certain amount of discomfort. The removal of ignorance from our minds requires effort. This effort usually pays off quickly, but if you have concerns about your child's progress, we encourage you to speak with his or her teachers in order to make sure that we are all working for the benefit of your child's intellectual and moral growth. As teachers we know that we don't know everything and we benefit from hearing about your experience in the home; please don't hesitate to contact us. What we do know from first-hand experience, however, is that a classical education ends up being fun for those who stick with it. Our students delight in being challenged, they rise to the tasks we give them, and they astound us, themselves, and their parents with their eloquence, their learning, and, more often than not, with a maturity that is beyond their peers. The years between kindergarten and graduation at TCA will be full of the wonders of young students growing intellectually, socially, and morally to become men and women of excellence and virtue. It is our promise to you that we will do what we can to help our students establish good, humane habits of the mind and heart as they grow up amidst a myriad of challenges and influences. It is our ambition to offer time-tested, meaningful challenges and thus influence our students according to the ideals of our tradition. It is our hope that our students will delight you with the knowledge and the character traits that TCA's classical education espouses. 3 The Classical Academy of Sarasota Handbook Section II: Overview The Classical Academy’s Framework The underlying philosophy of The Classical Academy is inspired by, and was created in collaboration with, Hillsdale College, located in Hillsdale, MI. TCA was also purposefully modeled after successful classical schools like Ridgeview Classical School in Fort Collins, CO, Nova Classical School in St. Paul, MN and Parnassus Preparatory School in Maple Grove, MN. The writings of Dr. T.O. Moore, along with the following books have helped lay the foundation for TCA: Cultural Literacy by E.D. Hirsch, Jr., Why Johnny Can’t Tell Right from Wrong by William Kilpatrick, Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman and The Schools We Need and Why We Don’t Have Them by E.D. Hirsch, Jr. A coherent and unified philosophy is one of the key areas of a stable school, and will drive everything from assessment to hiring to discipline to textbook selection. MISSION STATEMENT The mission of The Classical Academy of Sarasota is to provide an excellent K-12 education which develops the academic potential of each student through a rigorous, content-rich, classical liberal arts education while building in them a virtuous character. PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT It is the philosophy of The Classical Academy of Sarasota that all students benefit from a rigorous, content-rich, educational program that develops academic potential and personal character. The school will provide an environment that fosters academic excellence through the habit of thoroughness, the willingness to work, and the perseverance to complete difficult tasks. Through a defined traditional, classical-liberal arts curriculum students will be prepared to become active, responsible members of their community. ACADEMIC STANDARDS The Classical Academy of Sarasota will uphold high academic standards for all students regardless of background, socio-economic status, and ability. The curriculum will be content- rich, following the classical-liberal, traditional education model, with provisions to challenge all students to fulfill their individual academic potential. Objective standards will be monitored and maintained Promotion and graduation requirements will meet or exceed state requirements. Students shall take the defined curriculum and must earn promotion and graduation. The student schedule will be predominantly occupied by the defined curriculum. Students will be assessed through class work, regular assignments, and periodic tests. EDUCATION GROUNDED IN VIRTUE The Classical Academy of Sarasota’s environment and curriculum are designed to promote and build strength of character in students. The four classical virtues of temperance, prudence, fortitude, and justice will be taught, modeled and expected by all those who are a part of TCA The values of a democratic society will be identified and clearly taught. Outstanding people will be used as role models throughout the curriculum to teach virtue. 4 The Classical Academy of Sarasota Handbook LEARNING ENVIRONMENT The Classical Academy of Sarasota will promote a safe environment that fosters learning and character development. There will be a defined standard of appearance and a regulated campus. Positive student/parent/teacher relationships will be fostered. Extra-curricular activities will be encouraged. Success in our rigorous academic program is dependent upon consistent student effort and completion of assignments. The faculty will be a unified group of professionals focused on student achievement. STUDY SKILLS The Classical Academy of Sarasota will provide the opportunity for all students to acquire the mastery of study skills, which make learning possible and encourage self-motivation. Study skills (time management, research skills, note-taking) will be integrated throughout the curriculum. Teachers will evaluate the mastery of study skills. GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS Graduation requirements will exceed those outlined by Sarasota County and the state of Florida. See Graduation Requirements – Policy AP - 7.15 5 The Classical Academy of Sarasota Handbook Ancient Rome is believed to have been built upon seven hills. Each of these hills was believed at one time to have been heavily fortified with a walled city. These hills are the foundation on which Rome still stands today. At TCA, we believe in certain foundational truths, “hills”, that will direct the leadership, administration and faculty now and in the years to come. We establish these basic truths as a foundation to preserve the intent of our mission in developing graduates who are logical thinkers, coherent writers, confident speakers, thoughtful leaders and responsible virtuous citizens. The Seven Hills of The Classical Academy: 1. CLASSICAL EDUCATION: Our philosophy of education is built upon classical education, which not only helped shaped the founding of this great country, but has a rich and deep history dating back over 2500 years to the time of Plato and Aristotle. A classical liberal arts education provides a student with the greatest of all tools: a logical mind. It is a back-to-basics education, built around the chronological study of history, using first-source documents and great works of literature. 2. VIRTUE: Education without virtue is a fruitless endeavor. As Benjamin Franklin noted, “Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom”. The four classical virtues of temperance, fortitude, justice and prudence will be taught, modeled and expected by all those who are a part of the TCA community. Virtue is the foundation for a happy and prosperous life, and it will be woven into everything we do