The Lyceum letter Newsletter Vol. VIII No. 1 ~ Verum Bonum Pulchrum ~ Winter 2010 Dear Friends, liturgies in which they worship, students at the Christ is born! Glorify Him! Lyceum are indeed living well, and habituating Articles One of the frequent themselves to live a life according to reason. In compliments which I fact, through their Lyceum education, our students seem Page One: receive from those who to be following the very words of St. Paul in his Headmaster’s Letter have met Lyceum letter to the Romans where he writes: ―Do not students is how cheerful pattern yourselves after this age, but transform Page Two Headmaster Luke Macik Blessed Newman and and courteous they yourselves through a renewal of the mind…‖ The Lyceum are. Our students come from joyful families! The Classical Catholic Education does indeed renew Lyceum in turn, through its the mind. And this most certainly Page Four Building the Learning curriculum and dedication to all that is is the cause of a hope that brings Community the Clas- best in every facet of education, joy to our students. sical Way reinforces the hope which makes Lyceum students so joyful–so full I am sure that I speak for the * * * of hope. From whence does this whole Lyceum community in “I’d be delighted hope arise? The source of this expressing our heartfelt thanks to to have this kind hope, of course, is something, or Fr. David Ireland and the of school and I’d rather Someone divine: ―In the members of Sacred Heart Parish want more of beginning was The Word...and the for their gracious welcome of The them.” Word was made flesh and dwelt Lyceum to our new home. We Archbishop Charles among us.‖ thank God for such friends. Chaput , Archdiocese of Denver, speaking This beautiful Madonna and about The Lyceum The Incarnation of the Word, the Child greets Lyceum students Please enjoy this newsletter where March 2010 ―Logos‖ in St. John‘s Greek (a at our new home on the campus you can discover more about our of Sacred Heart Parish. * * * language studied by Lyceum extraordinary program of Catholic students), is at the heart of Classical Catholic Classical Education, and see pictures of our new Faculty Education. The Incarnation reminds us that the location. Thank you for your past support and Mr. James Flood Mrs. Jeanette Flood best human life, the life of the Word made flesh, is please do consider us in your year-end giving. Mrs. Colleen Hogan a life which is united with, and governed by Logos – Mr. Mark Langley Mr. Luke Macik Divine Eternal Reason. We mortals live well and May God bless you abundantly as we celebrate Mr. Henry Peyrebrune Mrs. Caitlyn Smith are truly alive when we live according to the the Incarnation, the Word made flesh. Mr. Edward Smith dictates of reason, of conscience—which Blessed Mr. Raymond Wilson John Henry Cardinal Newman called the Luke Macik, Headmaster Registrar ―aboriginal vicar of Christ.‖ To educate according Mrs. Mary Sand to conscience means that we strive in every way to Board of Trustees form our students to what is best, not simply Todd Montazzoli, MBA Henry Peyrebrune according to today‘s standards, but to eternal Michael Dosen, CPA Luke Macik, J.D. standards. Dennis Rowinski Rev. John Wessel Through the books which they read, the poetry The Lyceum: which they recite, the plays which they perform, the ―To Form Catholic, music which they sing, the mathematical truths Liberally Educated which they demonstrate, the ideas which they Ladies And Gentlemen.” consider, the theology which they study, and the The Lyceum’s spacious new home in South Euclid Pope Benedict XVI, Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman, and The Lyceum! We at The Lyceum followed Pope Benedict XVI‘s recent trip to Great Britain with enthusiastic interest. After all, anyone who has read Newman‘s Idea of a University can easily understand the lofty mission and aspirations of National Recognition A view of the front of the Lyceum’s new functional Classical Catholic Education and spacious home. With two stories of class- The Lyceum recently received that inspired the Lyceum‘s rooms and enough room for administrative offices, national recognition for academic founders. In fact the school the school is now ready to advance towards its excellence by the National student enrollment goal of 75 students! Catholic High School Honor has always adopted Newman Roll. Recognized as one of only formation of the heart, and the right ordering six schools across the nation with honorable mention for academic of the passions of students so that they will excellence, The Lyceum is "small heartily applaud St. Paul when he exhorts but mighty" - with an enrollment the Philippians, of nearly 50 students in grades 7- 12. The school is devoted to providing a classical Catholic ―Finally, brethren, whatsoever curriculum based on original things are true, whatsoever things are texts and the Great Books of honest, whatsoever things are just, Western Civilization whatsoever things are pure, The group just announced their whatsoever things are lovely, Lyceum students celebrate the Feast whatsoever things are of good report; selection of the best 50 Catholic of Saint Nicholas at the secondary schools and honorable skating rink. if there be any virtue, and if there be mention schools (see the entire list any praise, think on these things.” on www.chshonor.org) along with St. Thomas as its patron and now that the Pope has conferred The Catholic school will take St Paul‘s The Honor Roll is an upon him the official title of words as foundational in the curriculum independent project of the Acton ―Blessed,‖ we are ecstatic. Newman, that it proposes and will steer a clear path, Institute, an international research perhaps more than any other author and educational organization. It is avoiding the prevailing educational produced in consultation with an of recent memory, has set forth and fashions of the day. advisory board comprised of elucidated the principles and Catholic college presidents and meaning of Catholic education. scholars. Advisory board member Very Rev. David M. O‘Connell, the And what are those former President of Catholic principles? What does a University of America, said the Honor Roll‘s evaluation method is Classical Catholic Education indispensable. ―Catholic schools entail? Classical education is about must examine themselves on a learning to think well; to order one‘s regular basis using a well-rounded thoughts and words wisely. The approach that assesses adherence to educated person is able to think well the Church‘s educational calling,‖ he said. ―The Honor Roll strengthens and make good judgments about schools by encouraging high every field of inquiry insofar as possible. In addition, Classical The Lyceum Choir traveled to Solon, Ohio to standards and vibrant Catholicism.‖ sing the Divine Liturgy at The Protection of The Catholic Education entails the Virgin Mary Ukranian Catholic Church. Pictured here are members of the choir with Bishop 2 John Bura and Rev. Volodymyr Grystsyuk. also encounter the more But we might add that a Catholic dogmatic and mathematical school is not simply its curriculum. approach to ―science‖ through Perhaps of greatest significance to a conventional chemistry and Classical Catholic Education is the physical science texts. In this students‘ encounter with beautiful and way Lyceum students develop a fitting worship. Although the keener ability to appreciate what knowledge of God would seem to be science itself is. They gain a Lyceum students gather for the first contra clearer understanding of the dance of the academic year, accompanied by modern definition of truth (i.e. Cleveland’s own premier live Contra dance Band—‖Mud in Yer Eye.‖ truth is an idea ―that works‘ at least for the time being) as At The Lyceum students encounter opposed to the classical definition of several things in particular that are at truth ―the ―correspondence of the the heart of a Classical Catholic mind with reality.‖ Education: Students encounter a classical Students encounter the liberal arts, curriculum embracing the so called which are the ancient arts by which any ―humanities‖ (literature and history) human being learns to think well — and the fine arts. In this way they especially grammar, rhetoric, and logic! purge their passions and imaginations The school takes these arts very by filling them with images of heroic Members of The Lyceum choir prepare seriously, and holds that the ability to virtue, nobility, and beauty. They also for the annual Advent Lessons think well and find the truth has its supply their minds with an abundant and Carols program. basis in the liberal arts of language and and rich vicarious experience of life– the very thing in which man‘s final end logic. Ask anyone of our students of place and of time. They recite consists, we know that to know, love, taking Greek and Latin whether The poetry and sing sacred polyphony and and serve Him is the Lyceum is serious about purpose for which we were teaching the principles, made. To that end, theory, and correct perhaps an oft over-looked practice of language. aspect of Catholic education is the formation Students encounter of students in the excellent mathematics— ancient and fitting worship of and modern. They do this God. Indeed the fitting through an intensive year worship of God is a matter o f r e a d i n g a n d of great importance for demonstrating theorems the Christian and especially from Euclid‘s immortal in an age filled with work, The Elements, as well proposals and counter as through a program of proposals about the things modern algebra through Lyceum students line up to enjoy a hot lunch to help raise funds in which that worship calculus.