The Classical Trivium

What is an Orthodox Christian Classical Education?

As Orthodox Christians, we understand education in Greek, Paideia, as the total training and nurturing of the child. "Fathers, do not frustrate your children, but rear them in the paideia and admonition of the Lord." (Ephesians 6:4). Similarly, "My son, do not neglect the paideia of the Lord." (Hebrews 12:5).

Education is not an option for the children of God in the Church; it never has been. Even prior to Holy Baptism, and especially there, people are set aside for life in the Kingdom of God to be fed and nurtured in the Faith and to grow according to God's will and purpose. The fact that, in English versions of the Bible, Paideia is often translated as "discipline," or "chastening," demonstrates the persistently corrective nature of Christian education, guiding persons from their earliest years of blossoming self-direction, back to the goal of dependent communion with God. The human person - body, soul and spirit - is educated in the Church according to his or her created purpose, to recognize and act with all of creation in concert with the Creator, God the Holy Trinity.

"Classical education" refers to the manner of educating children according to a Classical model. The Classical model, time-tested since ancient Greek, Roman, and medieval times, is known as the Trivium, meaning, "triple-way." The Classical model recognizes three stages of mental/physiological development in children with corresponding stages of learning:

The Grammar stage, grades 1-4, concentrates on learning the facts of language, math, history, and science without much critical thinking.

The Logic stage, grades 5-8, concentrates on making truthful connections, deductions, and inferences with all the facts first learned in the Grammar stage.

Finally, the Rhetoric stage, grades 9-12, concentrates on truthful expression, meaningful discourse, and skillful persuasion.

Classical education prepares the student for valuable service in the world and society by teaching as much as one can about the world, tempering such knowledge with instruction in discrimination, and importantly developing the ability of the student to learn, think, and contribute in any situation in life.

The Classical education model is developmentally appropriate, superior in content, and impressive in its results yet, from an Orthodox Christian perspective, it is incomplete. Education must be accomplished for right-glory (in Greek, orthodoxy), for the love of God, and the love of all people.

The academic standards in any secular or Christian school (or home school) should be the highest possible, and the students of a Classically-modeled program will master more subject matter facts and methods of analysis than most, if not all, students from a non-Classical program. The aim of a specifically Orthodox approach, though, is to contemplate created things, then go beyond them to the Creator, and ultimately to know God, the Holy Trinity. The aim is to offer all knowledge back to God in thanksgiving for His goodness and love to us unto eternity. The end of Orthodox education is summarized with these words from the Divine Liturgy: Thine Own of Thine Own, we offer unto Thee, on behalf of all, and for all.

Orthodox classical education seeks to engender Saints, not just intelligentsia. The overriding diet of the Orthodox school is Holy Scripture (the incarnate Word of God), participation in the Liturgy and prayer hours of the Church, iconography, and the example of the lives of the Saints themselves. The things of this life become a revelation of the Kingdom of God as they are re-integrated and ordered rightly in the practice of the Church both corporately in worship and service, and personally in family and vocation.

To this end, Orthodox education possesses its own triple-way, to which the secular Classical model harmonizes quite well. The Orthodox way is: purification, illumination, and union with God. In an Orthodox context, learning the facts of life (Grammar stage) is primarily learning to practice virtues according to God's commandments, obedience to God and Church, repentance, and quelling the passions (purification). Learning how everything fits together in an ordered way (Logic stage) is learning the doctrines of the Church, the why things are the way they are by God's design, and the preservation and the restoration of all creation to a right use in Christ (illumination). Learning truthful expression, discourse and persuasion (Rhetoric stage) is learning the faith in unceasing prayer, passing beyond all human reason to rely assuredly on God despite empirical evidence and opposition to the contrary (union with God).

While corresponding in purpose, the triple-way of Orthodoxy is not so much sequential like the stages of the Trivium, but present in its tri-fold aspect throughout a person's life. Ultimately purification, illumination, and union with God cannot be attained by any method or model, but are gifts from God and a way of life in the Holy Spirit. Therefore the Orthodox way transcends the Trivium and is maintained through a basic attitude of humility, purity of heart and life, and prayer. Not only does an Orthodox classical education impart knowledge and the best tools of human learning, but it seeks to teach the student three most important things: how to desire God, not merely material ends; how to tenaciously cling to God's wisdom, not our own; and how to direct all our powers toward God, without straying according to human pride.

The genuineness of the Orthodox way in the school, an Orthodox classical education is that this way is the shared experience of the faithful throughout the centuries. Orthodox education does not rest on theoretical knowledge, speculation, or experimentation, but on the experience of God by the Saints as they were purified, illumined, and united to God. Orthodox classical education is very academic, but it transcends academia. Moses, who was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians (Acts 7:22), and the Apostle Paul, who excelled in Pharisaic training and could quote Greek philosophers with ease; both learned true wisdom, however, only as God appeared to them - to Moses on Mount Sinai and to Paul on the road to Damascus. So, too, Orthodox classical education revels in the finest of human learning but relies on the wisdom coming from God alone, revealed through His Son in the Holy Spirit. The Church knows such divine learning is only received by grace as we are purified in body, soul, and spirit.

The beauty of an Orthodox classical education is in its struggle. The struggle is not merely to offer a worldly education, or a collection of information merely to meet the standards of state or national accreditation. The struggle is not to use educational efforts as an opportunity for self-congratulation or supposedly guaranteed keys of worldly success. The struggle is to hope for more, to grow in the Kingdom of God, to long for the experience of God's grace, to love God, to cooperate with God in His eternal design, to commune with God. "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:2). This beautiful struggle of Orthodox classical education is the life of the Church, the Body of Christ, and eternal life that we may grow up in all things into Him Who is the head, Christ (Ephesians 4:15).

Links to local Orthodox parishes in the Harrisburg, PA area:

Christ the Savior OCA, Harrisburg - www.christthesaviourhbg.org

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Camp Hill - www.holytrinityhbg.org

Holy Apostles OCA, Mechanicsburg - www.holyapostleschurch.org

St. Nicholas Serbian Orthodox, Steelton - www.stnicholassteelton.com

The Orthodox Christian Academy is a Pan-Orthodox education progam organized under the auspices of the Center for Orthodox Christian Education (C.O.C.E).

We have established this program with the belief that a positive, formative education in an Orthodox Christian environment is the foundation for a Christ-centered and productive life. We are educating our children and grandchildren to be the next generation of self-confident, responsible, and committed Orthodox Christian adults.

Students are given instruction in, and the opportunity to practice their Orthodox Christian Faith by observing the Church Feast Days, worship and customs, prayer and fasting. Students receive an academic program of study in accordance with Pennsylvania State Law.

Our environment offers students a core program enriched by hands-on activities and certified, caring teachers who are sensitive to each child's learning style and strengths.

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Center for Orthodox Christian Education
PO Box 4032
Harrisburg, PA 17111

Fr. Daniel Ressetar, Headmaster
Tel. 717-545-5054
Email: frdanhbg@aol.com

COCE is registered with the Division of Nonpublic,
Private Schools of the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

We are a non-profit organization,
under the 501(c)3 United States Tax Code.

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"...And that from childhood you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." - 2 Timothy 3:15

OUR MISSION

Our Mission at the Orthodox Christian Academy
is to educate the mind, body and soul
according to Holy Tradition of the Orthodox Faith
and the wisdom of Classical Education.

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"Where there is no vision, the people perish..." - Proverbs 29:18

OUR VISION

Our vision is to develop and sustain a Pan-Orthodox, K-12, Faith-based, private educational ministry in the Tri-County Area of Greater Harrisburg.

Having a Vision translates into setting Goals toward which to strive in fulfilling that Vision. Accordingly, we have set the following goals:

1. Our school follows a Classical Trivium educational model, integrated with faith. We recognize theosis (i.e., becoming God-like; partaking of the divine nature [2 Peter 1:4]) as a primary goal of Christian education and therefore endeavor to:

    a. Guide the spiritual and social development of the students through their participation in the Orthodox Christian community and liturgical life.

    b. Reinforce Orthodox Christian character in service of the global community.

    c. Provide an academically rigorous college preparatory education.

2. To teach students how to learn rather than simply what to learn.

3. To develop character in our students so they will become productive and faithful members of our communities.

4. To encourage families to more fully participate in the life of the Church.

This focus on spiritual, character and academic development follows the lead established by our Church Fathers and Mothers, who recognized the goal of education as being "to allow a follower of Christ to come closer to God, to spread and defend the Faith, and to act as a good steward of His creation."

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OUR HISTORY

A HISTORY OF THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

by Fr. Daniel Ressetar, Headmaster

The first "open forum" to study the feasibility of starting a pan-Orthodox Christian private school in the Greater Harrisburg area was scheduled for February 27, 2005... a forum which never took place, after an 8-inch snowfall late in the day forced a postponement...

...But the Seed Had Been Planted Long Before...

Over 20 years ago, 15 years before that scheduled meeting, 3 families belonging to Christ The Saviour Orthodox Church in Harrisburg were thinking about home schooling their children, and then planning to meet together one morning a week in the parish hall. The idea was to give the children the opportunity to socialize once a week, do crafts, learn songs, play games, get some exercise in the outdoors, and have their lunch together. But none of this panned out. A nearby Presbyterian-affiliated school, Covenant Christian Academy, hired a bright new headmaster, and two of the three families decided to enroll their children at that institution.

The snow storm in 2005, one of the countless obstacles and setbacks we encountered in trying to get our private school off the ground - an Orthodox one (not Protestant, not Roman Catholic, not Jewish) - made other Orthodox Christians inside and outside the parish that much more determined to work out a plan to get "The Orthodox School" started.

Light Before the Dawn

On subsequent attempts, our prospects started to look more encouraging: Rev. Dr. Chris Perrin, the headmaster at Covenant Christian Academy in Harrisburg; the Rev. Deacon Joseph Kreta from Allentown, who began teaching at York College and was later assigned to Christ The Saviour Church; and the Very Rev. Daniel D. Ressetar, pastor of Christ The Saviour Orthodox Church, met at a nearby restaurant for more that two hours to discuss the feasibility of organizing a school and to formulate the ideas presented.

The Idea Begins to Take Root

During the next several years many meetings were held at the various local Orthodox churches, with attendance figures averaging between 10 and 20 interested persons. Articles and paid display ads began to be published in the local newspapers promoting the establshment of a Center for Orthodox Christian Education (C.O.C.E.). Priests and church board members of the local Orthodox communites - Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church, Holy Annunciation Church, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, and Saint Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church, and later, Holy Apostles Mission - endorsed the concept and willingly gave their moral support.

The Metropolitan's Blessing

His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman, Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, gave the venture his blessing on the condition of communicating with other Orthodox private schools such as the one in Akron, Ohio; in Warren, Pennsylvania; and particularly the All Saints Eastern Orthodox School in White Haven, PA, which four members of the Board of Directors visited in person. Father Dan received information from and communicated with the other schools referred to.

Ready.... Or Not.... False Starts

The Board was about ready to start classes in the fall of 2007, but more setbacks appeared: Deacon Joseph Kreta moved on, accepting employment in another state; the rental fee for the intended location, The Town & Country Day Care Center in Paxtang, PA, turned out to be too high for the three classrooms; and our prospective husband/wife team, a headmaster and a certified school teacher, decided not to relocate to the Harrisburg area. The last-listed obstacle also caused us to give up on the idea of using the lower floor of the parish hall of Holy Annunciation Church in Steelton, which had been offered to us at a reasonable rate. When this location fell through, a truckload of desks and children's chairs had to be removed from the premises and into storage.

In the interim, meetings were held almost every month at different churches, waiting for the right time to begin. Some of the board members were beginning to wonder if this Orthodox school was really 'meant to be.'

A Welcome Gift from a Generous Donor

Funded by the Board of Directors from a large grant contributed by an interested Orthodox Christian, Mrs. Betty Middlesworth, Fr. Dan traveled by train to Boston to attend the Second Annual Conference on Orthodox Schools held at Hellenic College and Holy Cross School of Theology August 1 and 2, 2008. This inspiring conference was organized and led by Dr. Bryan Smith from Fort Worth, Texas. A full report later was given to the Board of Directors. Fr. Dan was encouraged to learn that many Orthodox Schools have been organized throughout the country, and each institution represented at this conference - there were over 40 attending - shared what they had done and what could be done. The conference promoted strong emphasis on the Classical Education Model which is based on the principle of organizing a child's education in stages - Grammar, Logic and Rhetoric - which formed the educational paradigm of all the great schools from the Greeks through the 19th century in America. The conference also recognized the compatibility between Orthodoxy and the Classical Model, in that Orthodox Christian education is a life-long process designed to encourage Orthodox Christianity as a way of life. And that education is not merely about filling young minds with facts; it is about teaching young people how to think and how to best live out their lives in God's service.

"It's Now Or Never!"

Fearing waning interest in the attempt to establish a private Orthodox school, the Executive Board, with the full support from the Board of Directors, decided to make every effort during the summer of 2009 - jump-started with the funds donated by Mrs. Betty Middlesworth - to begin classes in September of that year.

Classified ads were placed in The Patriot-News seeking an elementary school teacher - and surprisingly we received seven replies. But none of the applicants were Orthodox Christian, although all were qualified in their own areas of expertise.

An ad was placed on the Internet on Craig's List. Mrs Jennifer Sremanak a parishioner of Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, State College PA, answered the call. She and her husband happened to be relocating to the nearby Carlisle, PA area. An active Orthodox Christian, a qualified elementary school teacher with teaching experience, "Miss Jen" as she is called by her students, seemed to be the perfect fit for the job! She was interviewed and hired as the new Teacher for the opening class at the Orthodox Christian Academy. Shortly afterward, the Board of Trustees of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Camp Hill. PA, readily approved our renting two classrooms at their facility, as a home for the school. The tide had turned! A lease was drawn up and signed.

A Web Presence

In the meantime, one of the board members was able to put together an internet website for the Academy, www.orthodoxchristianacademy.org, which helps establish a presence for the school and gets the word out beyond our local area. We are grateful to see several inquiries about the school coming to us through the website as well as through local advertising and by word of mouth.

Open House Events

Flyers were mailed out and placed in church bulletins announcing our Open House in August. We had eight prospective parents expressing interest in having their children enroll for the September 8, 2009 opening of the Orthodox Christian Academy. Although the budget included having at least ten students enrolled, we decided to start with a lesser enrollment.

Local Media Coverage

A great boon to our school occurred part-way through our first year, when the local media gave us some needed recognition. Ms. Mary Klaus, a reporter for The Patriot-News, interviewed Miss Jen and the executive board in January for a story about the Academy. It was featured as a one-third page article with color photos in the online magazine at www.PennLive.com/Patriot-News, during the last week of February 2010.

Miss Jen Has Her Helpers

Volunteers as teacher's aides come by the school daily, usually one in the morning, the other in the afternoon. The local parish priests offer talks on Orthodoxy using icons as visual aids. All the children regularly attend the main Feast Day Divine Liturgies at Holy Trinity Cathedral, with the Orthodox students receiving Holy Communion. Whenever possible, Father Dan assists Father Kosta, the cathedral dean, and Father Yanni, at the altar on the feast days.

One of the unsung heros in this regard is Fr. Dan's wife, Matushka Theodora, who substitutes for Miss Jen when necessary and who has a background as a professional educator of many years. And we can honestly say that if it were not for the relentless work, behind the scenes, of board member Joanne Wevodau, the school as we know it would not even exist. Thanks to all of you!

We Are Grateful

We want to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to all who have helped fund, donated, encouraged, worked, and prayed for the establishment of the school and who believe in maintaining it, for the future value of the educational and spiritual investment we are making in our Orthodox youth. And we are especially full of thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ, and pray that whatever else the Orthodox Christian Academy accomplishes in our local community, it will bring glory to His name!

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OUR BOARD
ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
P.O. BOX 4032
HARRISBURG, PA 17111

Orthodox Christian Academy
Board of Directors
August 28, 2009

V. Rev. Daniel Ressetar, Headmaster

Joanne Wevodau, Treasurer

Elizabeth Stefero Howe, Secretary

Rev. Timothy Hojnicki, Board

Rev. Yanni Verginis, Board

Nicholas Steven Govelovich, Board

Vasil Mihailoff, Board

Nadine Klipa, Board

Richard & Kathy Andersen, Board

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"And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing...The children of Israel brought a willing offering to the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work" - Exodus 35:21,29

Wish List

The Orthodox Christian Academy is totally funded by tuition and donations. To provide our students with the best education and environment to be successful, we are asking our brothers and sisters in Christ to help us achieve our goals.

How can I help?

Update Nov. 1, 2009:
THANKS TO ALL WHO HELPED
FULFILL OUR WISH LIST!!!

Donation of the following items would be was deeply appreciated:

TV & VCR
Children’s books (religious or secular)
Icons of Saints
World Map/Globe
US Map
Bookcase
CD Player
Storage Cabinet

Glory to God, all the above items that are now crossed out, were donated to the School by the generosity of our supporters. Thanks again! Remember, you're making an investment in the children, and in the future!

Monetary donations are especially appreciated at this time.
To make a donation, please contact Father Dan Ressetar at 545-5054 or e-mail at frdanhbg@aol.com .

$50 will purchase school supplies
$100 will help purchase educational toys
$250 will help purchase shelving
$500 will help purchase playground equipment
$1500 will provide a 50% scholarship for a deserving student

Any donation will help the school provide a quality education
for our children.

Monetary donations may also be mailed to:

The Orthodox Christian Academy
PO Box 4032
Harrisburg, PA 17111

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"Also I heard the voice of the LORD, saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' And I said, 'Here I am; send me!" - Isaiah 6:8

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
How can you help out?

Consider volunteering as a teacher's aid one or two days a month!

All you need is a positive attitude and a genuine love for children.

Contact Joanne Wevodau at jwevodau@verizon.net

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"And these words, which I command you this day, shall be in your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your children" - Deuteronomy 6:6,7

TEACHER'S CORNER

The Orthodox Academy is proud to introduce our new K-1 teacher, Jennifer Sremanak. Jennifer graduated from Pennsylvania State University with her Bachelor of Science in Elementary and Kindergarten Education and her Bachelor of Arts in History with distinction. She received her Professional Teaching Certificate from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Jennifer is also a trained children’s counselor and advocate. She has experience with children in several capacities including substitute teacher, SAT prep course instructor, AmeriCorps-Jumpstart member, college teaching assistant, and child counselor and advocate.

Jennifer has a deep appreciation for History and believes much can be learned from the past. Her favorite resource is the Bible. In her personal time she also enjoys outdoor activities such as tennis, hiking, swimming, and taking her dog for walks.

After years of searching, Jennifer found her religious home in the Orthodox Church and was baptized into the Church at Holy Trinity in State College, PA. She knew her ideal teaching job would be to prepare children to lead a Christ-like life and feels very blessed to have been called to the Orthodox Christian Academy. Jennifer and her husband, Christopher, recently moved to Newville, PA and are members of the Holy Apostles Orthodox Mission in Mechanicsburg, PA. They both feel very blessed to be a part of this endeavor and are honored to hold such a responsibility.

Jennifer can be reached at jensremanak@yahoo.com

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"To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven." - Ecclesiastes 3:1

DAILY SCHEDULE

•Arrival 8:30
•Prayer/Pledge of Allegiance/Saint's Life or Scripture w/ Fr Dan: 8:40
•Class Meeting/Circle Time: 8:55am
•Language Arts 9:15
    –Reading
    –Writing
    –Spelling
    –Grammar
    –Foreign Language with Fr. Dan
•Mathematics 10:45
•Lunch and Recess 11:30
•Social Studies (M, T, Th) 12:30
•Science (W) 12:30
•Weekly Review (F) 12:30
•K-nap, 1st- extended Language Arts 1:15
•Specials 1:45
    –Physical education
    –Art
    –Music
    –Orthodox Studies
•Chores and Tidy Up 2:30
•Daily Review 2:45
•Prayer 2:55
•Dismissal 3:00

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Orthodox Christian Academy Calendar

2009-2010

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