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Dear Lower School Families,
What a joy it has been to begin this school year! I am grateful to be part of a school that gives children the opportunity to step away from the distractions of the world and immerse themselves in meaningful learning. We were delighted to welcome so many of you to our annual Curriculum Nights on Tuesday and Wednesday, where our teachers gave you a glimpse into the rich, timeless education your children experience each day with some practical tips on how to help them be successful from home. Thank you for joining us for such a special evening and for partnering with us in this noble endeavor!
As we engage in a new school year, I would like to share some highlights of what makes Great Hearts Northern Oaks a unique and intentional community.
What Is Classical Education?
At Great Hearts, classical education means allowing students to encounter rich, meaningful content rooted in the Western Tradition while cultivating the whole child. Through the Liberal Arts, students learn to think deeply, pursue what is true and good, and grow in both intellectual and moral virtue. The classical model includes the grammar stage where students learn how language works; the logic stage where they learn how to reason well; and the rhetoric stage where they learn how to express truth beautifully. Every child, regardless of background or circumstance, is welcomed into a shared community of learning where we strive for excellence together.
How Can You Help Your Child Flourish?
One of the greatest gifts you can give your child is the opportunity to do hard things, make mistakes, learn from them, and persevere when things are difficult. Parents are the primary educators of their children, and our partnership with you is essential. The routines you establish, the value you place on reading and learning, the opportunities you provide for healthy leisure, and the boundaries you set around screens reinforce the work happening in our classrooms each day. Encourage your child to advocate for himself or herself and partner with your child's teacher. Most importantly, model the virtues you hope to see in your child—integrity, patience, gratitude, self-control, perseverance, and relentless goodwill. Our children are watching how we respond to difficulty, how we treat others, and how we demonstrate these virtues at home.
What Do We Mean by Socratic Pedagogy?
“Wonder is the passion that arises from the consciousness of ignorance...this consciousness leads to the seeking of knowledge of things in their causes.” —Aristotle
In a classical classroom, questions are not simply a way to check whether students know the answer; they are a way to awaken wonder and invite students into discovery. Through Socratic discussion, teachers intentionally guide students with thoughtful questions, experiences, and conversation so that students do the work of thinking for themselves. Our goal is not simply for students to know more, but to become curious, engaged, thoughtful learners who delight in discovering how and why things are true.
When home and school are aligned in purpose and grounded in trust, we create a community in which our children are deeply known and loved while also being challenged to grow.
This is the beautiful work we share. We are not simply preparing students for the next grade level or the next academic milestone. Together, we are forming great-hearted young men and women prepared to live life well, to pursue what is true, choose what is good, appreciate what is beautiful, and bring joy to the communities around them.
If you would like to learn more about Classical Education, please visit the PSO website and order The Introduction to Classical Education: A Guide for Parents by Christopher Perrin, PhD.
Thank you for your partnership, your trust, and for choosing Great Hearts Northern Oaks to walk alongside you in the formation of your children.
Joyfully,
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