A TRA student uses a scoring tool while learning stained glass artistry skills in an Advent season elective.

What distinguishes The River Academy from all other classical, Christian schools? Do we teach the Great Books? Absolutely, just like many other schools. Do we educate from a Christian worldview that’s infused into everything that we do? Absolutely, just like many other schools. Do we have a House system? Absolutely we do, arguably far stronger than other schools (in our humble opinion). But what else? What’s truly unique about TRA’s secondary curriculum? Advent Electives.

“These three weeks of school see the creation of a variety of different electives that are joyful and intentionally relational, fostering great discussions in different situations and about different topics than we can traditionally tackle. ”

Let’s face it, those winter weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas can become tedious. The days are cold and dark. The mountains are calling. So, long ago we decided to set aside the three weeks between breaks, to branch out and offer creative classes that enrich our culture. Many of our core classes include special units or projects, but electives are really where the fun and experiential learning happens .

We have had a wide variety of electives: snow football, cookie decorating, gourmet cooking, science-fiction film analysis, drum-making, tea appreciation, and many more. Our goal: bring a variety of students together with their teachers to share and do life with one another in memorable, meaningful ways.

Students ask all the time: “When am I going to use this in the ‘real world’?” But I chafe at that complaint because everything we study, from Latin to logarithms, is equipping them with wisdom for interacting with the world. Advent electives do this in a special way. By offering an opportunity to engage with ideas in a hands-on environment, students are equipped with relational and practical skills they can use to build community and camaraderie in later life.

A TRA student practices safe whittling skills learned in an Advent Elective.

Isn’t celebration just as much a part of who we are as the books we read, the science experiments we do, and the math problems we solve? During the long, dark days of Advent, we remember the long, dark wait for our Savior and the joy of His coming. So, as we celebrate the advent of Christ, the River takes this time to create opportunities to speak into our students’ lives by doing good, true, and beautiful things with them.

Advent electives are a beloved tradition and a favorite of staff and students alike. We think of it as a reward for working hard, a chance to connect with our students in ways we might not in our core classes, and a unique way to celebrate Advent. It’s an important part of our overall curriculum as we disciple our students and walk with them relationally.

-Tyler Howat, Dean of Academics