“Why We’re Proud to Offer a Liberal Arts Education at The River Academy”

When someone once asked me if we teach a liberal arts curriculum “even though we’re conservative,” I smiled. There’s a lot of confusion about why we boast about “liberal arts” in today’s politically charged culture where “liberal” implies a political leaning. But that’s not what we mean at The River Academy. The liberal arts have nothing to do with politics and everything to do with freedom. The word liberal comes from the Latin liber, meaning “free.” Historically, the liberal arts were the subjects a free person needed to study in order to live wisely and well–to be free-thinking. It meant being literally and mentally free, not constrained or controlled by others in their thinking. 

The real question is: do we want students who can be told what to think, or students who are trained how to think? The goal of a liberal arts education is to form free thinkers—students who can think critically, discern wisely, and speak with grace and courage.

At The River Academy, we don’t teach our students to blindly accept what the world tells them. We train them to ask questions, to love the truth, and to be humble enough to admit when they’re wrong. That’s not easy, and it’s not quick—but it’s worth it. In a world full of noise, slogans, and surface-level opinions, we want our students to stand firm in what is true, good, and beautiful.

The liberal arts go back hundreds of years. In the medieval world, they were organized into two groups: the Trivium (grammar, logic, rhetoric) and the Quadrivium (math, geometry, music, astronomy). These weren’t just school subjects. They were tools to shape a mind and soul: to think clearly, speak well, and wonder at God’s creation. They still are.

That’s why, in our classrooms, we don’t rush to give quick answers. We ask big questions. We read great books and wrestle with ideas. We discuss. We debate. We reflect. We don’t want to give students pre-packaged talking points; we want them to understand why they believe what they believe—and how to explain it with charity and clarity.

This vision isn’t new. The founders of our country—people like Thomas Jefferson and John Adams—believed deeply in the liberal arts. Jefferson once wrote, “If a nation expects to be ignorant and free… it expects what never was and never will be.” In other words, if you want liberty, you need wisdom. And if you want wisdom, you need education that forms the whole person.

Even C.S. Lewis echoed this when he said we need to “see with other eyes, to imagine with other imaginations, to feel with other hearts.” That’s the kind of imagination we want to develop—one that creates empathy, not just opinion. One that prepares students to lead with virtue, not just talent.

At a classical Christian school like ours, we don’t pursue education for its own sake. We see it as a way to glorify God and serve others. Our students are not just being prepared for college or a job—they’re being prepared for a life of faithfulness, wisdom, and service. We want them to learn to speak truth in love, to defend their beliefs with grace, and to stand firm in a world that’s often confused about what really matters.

Some may say the liberal arts are outdated or should be renamed to fit our political terminology. We couldn’t disagree more. In fact, we believe they’re more relevant than ever. In a culture filled with division, distraction, and shallow thinking, students need deep roots. They need to know who they are, what they believe, and why it matters. And they need grounding in the Truth of Scripture. That’s what the liberal arts help them discover.

So yes—we are proud to be a classical Christian school that offers a liberal arts education. Not because we’re trying to make students “liberal,” but because we believe freedom—real freedom—comes from minds and hearts that are trained to pursue truth, love wisdom, and walk humbly with the Lord.

A Year of Abundant Grace and Joy at TRA

Dear Beloved TRA Family,

As we reflect upon the vibrant tapestry of the 2024-2025 school year at TRA, it is clear that while our days were wonderfully full, our Great God has, with boundless generosity, provided for our every need and then some! Indeed, the words of Ephesians 3:20-21 echo profoundly in our hearts: "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

And truly, God has done "far more abundantly than all that we ask or think" right here at TRA this past year. Behold the abundant blessings poured out upon us:

• A Playground of Joy: Our new PreK-K playground, now open to all TRA elementary students, offering delightful space for play before and after school, on weekends, and throughout the summer.

• Run with Faith! Takes Off: A brand-new club for girls in grades 3-8, fostering strength, fellowship, and spiritual growth.

• Project Legacy Soars: Securing the building permit for Phases 1 & 2 of our new school building, alongside a monumental $6 million in funding – a powerful testament to His faithful provision!

• A Transformed Fireside Room: Enhanced with a new projector and immersive surround sound system, perfect for community gatherings and enriching learning.

• Strengthening Our Leadership: Welcoming two new TRA administrators, completing our dedicated team for the upcoming year.

• Growing Classrooms: Doubling our 4th-grade class to two sections, accommodating our thriving student body.

• Summer of Enrichment: Launching our inaugural four-week summer enrichment program, offering exciting opportunities for continued learning and fun.

• Gym Transformation Continues: Phase 2 of the gym conversion is underway, with brilliant new spotlights already installed and comprehensive sound panels planned for the summer – enhancing every athletic and community event.

• Strategic Vision: Near completion of our new five-year strategic plan, which we eagerly anticipate sharing with you in the upcoming school year, guiding our path forward with purpose.

• Math Success with Mathodology: A triumphant first year for our new elementary math program, Mathodology, empowering students to become truly critical thinkers.

• Nurturing Our Youngest Learners: Introducing a new two-day-a-week program for three-year-olds, welcoming even more precious souls into the TRA family.

• A Graduating Class of Distinction: Celebrating our largest ever graduating class of 17 students, ready to impact the world for Christ.

• Expanding Our Reach: A new full-time marketing position to joyfully share the unique mission and vision of TRA with our wider community.

This remarkable list merely scratches the surface of the countless ways God has blessed TRA this past school year. None of these triumphs would have been possible without your faithful partnership and unwavering support. To God alone be the glory!

As the summer sun shines upon us, may our Lord grant you a restful, rejuvenating, and deeply blessed season. May your child(ren) be refreshed and eager as they prepare their hearts and minds for the exciting 2025-2026 school year ahead.

In Christ,

Mike Picciottoli

TRA Head of School

"For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen." Romans 11:36

Paideia: The Heart of Classical Christian Education at TRA

In ancient Greece, the education of a young citizen was more than a transfer of knowledge—it was the cultivation of a soul. The Greeks called this process paideia, a term that encompassed the holistic formation of an individual’s intellectual, moral, and spiritual virtues. It was not enough to train the mind in logic or the body in athleticism. To the Greeks, a true education turned a student’s entire being toward the pursuit of what is good, true, and beautiful. Centuries later, this same vision of education lies at the core of our mission as a school, where paideia informs both how and why we teach.

Now we come to the classical and Christian foundation of paideia, where education is understood as the shaping of both intellect and character. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.” Education is about more than grades and tests and papers. We teach them how to think rather than what to think. We give them challenging scenarios through the books that they read, discussed in safe, Christ-centered classrooms so that they can prayerfully sharpen their minds and hearts. And we hope that you read the books with your children, discuss them at the dinner table, and wrestle with it all: the true, the good, the beautiful, and the hard. This transformative approach aligns perfectly with our school’s purpose: to partner with parents in raising the next generation of Christian leaders, equipped to shape culture through faithful, wise, and joyful Christian living.

At its heart, paideia is the formation of the whole person. Plato, in The Republic, likens education to turning the soul toward the light, orienting it to what is true and just. Aristotle complements this in Nicomachean Ethics, where he emphasizes the role of education in habituating virtue—shaping not only what a student knows, but how they live. These classical insights reach their pinnacle in the biblical vision of paideia, and Paul exhorts Christians to raise children “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (ESV, Ephesians 6.4). It is this vision that guides our school’s curriculum and culture, grounded in the conviction that all education is ultimately formation.

In the classroom, paideia comes to life through our classical approach. Students do more than memorize facts or acquire skills—they engage with the great ideas of history, wrestling with enduring questions: What does it mean to live well? How do we discern truth? How do we glorify God in all things? When reading Beowulf, for instance, they examine its thrilling battles not as ends in themselves, but as avenues to explore courage, self-sacrifice, and the fleeting nature of earthly glory. When Beowulf prepares for his final battle, he reflects with humility, “I have wrested the hilt from the enemies’ hands, avenged the evil / done to the Danes; it is for this that I thank God / as I die” (2794–2796). These words invite students to consider themes of gratitude and reliance on God, anchoring their academic journey in eternal truths.

While our classical roots provide intellectual depth, our Christian faith gives paideia its ultimate purpose. True education is not neutral—it shapes students in the way they should go. Our teachers model what it means to love God with their minds, fostering an environment where faith and learning are beautifully intertwined. Whether contemplating Plato’s allegory of the cave, solving a complex equation, or crafting an artistic masterpiece, students see how every pursuit points back to God’s truth and glory.

Equally integral to paideia is its relational dimension. Education is deeply communal. At our school, teachers are more than instructors—they are mentors who walk alongside students, modeling wisdom, grace, and perseverance. As Mortimer Adler observes, “The ultimate end of education is happiness or a good human life, a life enriched by the possession of every kind of good, by the enjoyment of every type of satisfaction.” This flourishing is cultivated not in isolation, but within a community of mutual encouragement and accountability. Relationships matter; our students thrive because they feel known, loved, and challenged to grow.

This relational focus extends beyond the classroom, shaping the joyful culture of our school. Our community reflects the fruit of paideia in the laughter of students at play, the prayers shared in assemblies, and the acts of kindness exchanged daily. Joy, central to our core values, is not a mere byproduct of education—it is its rightful result, rooted in the knowledge that we belong to Christ and His Kingdom.

Through the lens of paideia, education becomes more than preparation for college or careers. It becomes the shaping of souls for faithful service. Like the Greeks who sought to cultivate virtue in their youth, and like Paul who discipled Timothy, we aim to equip students to engage the world with wisdom and grace. Their journey is not just academic—it is deeply formative, preparing them to shape culture and glorify God in all they do.

At our school, we embrace the sacred calling of education. Guided by paideia, we endeavor not only to teach but to form, trusting that God will use our efforts to equip the next generation of leaders for His purposes.

The Roar of the Lion Cub: Why Speech Meet Matters and Why We Introduce Public Speaking in 1st Grade

At our classical Christian school, we embrace classical, Christian, joyful, and relational values. One unique aspect of our curriculum is the emphasis we place on public speaking, starting as early as 1st grade. Public speaking in our curriculum is not merely about eloquence; it is about equipping our students to proclaim the Gospel and speak truth in love. As Saint Augustine once said, "The truth is like a lion; you don’t have to defend it. Let it loose; it will defend itself." By teaching our students to communicate effectively, we are empowering them to be courageous witnesses of their faith, standing firm in their convictions and defending their ideas with grace and humility. By starting in 1st grade, our lion cubs can begin to find their roars. 

This foundational element prepares our students not only for their senior thesis projects but also for a lifetime of confident and meaningful public expression. We aren't just teaching our students to recite lines; we're teaching them to find their voices. We're training them to be vir bonus dicendi peritus–good people who speak well–as Quintilian would say. And we begin in first grade because we want to instill this confidence early.

By introducing public speaking at a young age, we are nurturing these essential skills, ensuring our students can effectively communicate their ideas, passions, and beliefs. They discover that they aren't alone in their passions, their ideas, their fears. Public speaking helps students discover and develop these gifts, fostering self-confidence and self-assurance. As Solomon instructs, "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it" (English Standard Version, Proverbs 22.6). By instilling confidence in our students from an early age, we are equipping them with the skills needed to navigate life's challenges and opportunities.

And let's be honest, speech meets aren't just about winning trophies. They're about learning to articulate truth, to persuade with grace, to connect with an audience. They're about honing the ethos, pathos, and logos that the Apostle Paul used on the Areopagus and his epistles. 

Speech meet and speaking from a young age also instills a sense of grit. It is hard work to memorize and recite lines, let alone doing it publicly. I bet there were some late nights, some blood, sweat, and tears along the way to preparing for that moment in front of the class. It’s entirely possible that some lines were forgotten or stumbled over. But learning to overcome those struggles, powering through the mis-remembered recitations, is part of the point. We do hard things in this world, and getting back up and dusting off our knees when we fall is half the battle.

Lastly, the practice of public speaking fosters a joyful and relational learning environment. Students support and encourage one another, celebrating each other's achievements. This sense of community is vital to their development as compassionate and empathetic individuals, ready to make a positive impact on the world around them. Just as Lewis and Tolkien found a "circle of Christian friends by a good fire," we want our students to find their own circles of support, their own opportunities to speak truth and build community.

By introducing public speaking in 1st grade, we are preparing our students for academic success and instilling in them the confidence, character, and communication skills needed to lead and serve effectively in their future endeavors. This commitment to classical, Christian, joyful, and relational education ensures that our students are well-equipped to proclaim the Gospel, speak truth, and engage thoughtfully in the world around them.

So, when you see our first-graders stepping up to the microphone, remember that they're not just reciting lines they’ve painstakingly memorized. They’re lion cubs readying their roars. They're taking the first steps on a journey that will shape them into confident, articulate, and impactful young men and women. They're learning to find their voices, and to use them for good. And that’s a journey worth taking.

Tuition Assistance: Easier and More Common Than You Think

Applying for tuition assistance at TRA is easy, equitable, and can make the difference between whether or not your children receive a Christian, classical education. One in four families at TRA receives tuition assistance. This need-based program continues to provide for family after family, year after year.

We use a third party organization to evaluate individual family needs. Considerations include family income, number of children, and reasonable living expenses. Generally, awards will not exceed 50% of tuition. The third party charges a $45 application fee, and the process is simple and confidential.  

Should you apply for tuition assistance for your family? See the examples provided below along with the amazing testimonials of two families currently benefiting from the TRA tuition assistance program.

Examples show possible financial scenarios, not actual TRA families.

“Our love for TRA goes beyond rigorous academics; we are here because of the culture that TRA has developed among its staff and students, the biblical perspective that is taught and the amazing close-knit families that support and surround our school. To be able to continue our children’s education here is a tremendous blessing to us and the only way that has happened is because of the financial aid program. The benefit to our family as a whole, is bigger than I can express. Thank you for giving us the ability to keep our children here and helping us to invest in the best.”

-Anonymous

“TRA has given us a family-like community, and with that comes phenomenal teachers who deeply care for my son's physical, mental, and spiritual health. Yet without financial aid, there simply is just no way we would be able to provide that for him. He is sharing what he is learning at The River with children at playgrounds and with other families who don't know Jesus, and sharing His words with them. Without your generous donors, we could not provide my son with the quality Christ-centered education he receives here. Thank you!”

-Anonymous

Science Education through a Christian Worldview

I love my job. What a blessing to work with this amazing staff to try—in whatever way possible—to inspire awe in our students for this complex world. Come on, that is a worthy, daily challenge. Oh, wait, I can also begin each science class with prayer to the designer of everything? Outstanding.

But, why science? There are a lot of topics being taught at The River Academy, so why tackle Physical Science, Biology, Physics and Chemistry? Easy. I am, and will always be, fascinated by the intricacies of living organisms, patterns within the laws of motion, our immense galaxy (let alone the universe), and the countless reactions of simple elements like carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen. Man will never have it all figured out, but it is sure fun to try.  

Do I always succeed in prompting this same fascination in our students? Absolutely not, but maybe along the way our students also learn practical life skills like organization with lab journals and collaboration through problem solving, projects, and debates. How satisfying to see 9th grade teams vivaciously debate energy production. Why?  Because they are willing to examine and communicate to each other about real world problems that they may have never given a single thought to before. That is good stuff.

Our textbook is a regular, secular text by choice because we want our students to banter evolution alongside creationism. Armed with a Christian worldview, our students should have already discussed ever changing theories on how the universe and life began with and without including God’s perfect design. People in this world will challenge them. Let’s be honest: their friends already are, so it is wise to figure out where these ideas are coming from for a ready response.

Science should be hands-on and teach us that we can make guesses and be wrong. We can use our logic to problem solve and make corrections as needed. Our students should find it challenging to remember the details in the DNA code. They need to be willing to make mistakes as they attempt to understand the protein pumps in plasma membranes of each and every cell of their bodies. May they also appreciate that plants are way cooler than us because they can make their own food through photosynthesis.  

Do I hope that our students will leave TRA and become employed in a science field? Sure. But, it is more about instilling curiosity for the unknown and feeling humbled by the vastness of creation and the Creator. It is those light bulb moments when a student realizes that the moon changes its position constantly and is the reason our oceans have tides. It is fun to watch students help and challenge each other to solve puzzles as they ask “why?” and “how?”. 

So, as a teacher, is it possible to explain the stunning, mathematical order within the countless elaborate systems of our bodies, on this Earth and beyond? It is sure worth a try. 

Partnering with Parents: TRA is Not a Drop-off School.

The River Academy mission states we exist to “partner with parents,” which is fundamental to the identity of our school. What does that even mean?  Well, it means we love to serve families who share our mission and want the kind of education we provide. The given goal we are all working toward is “educating their children to become the next generation of Christian leaders.”  We need like-minded families to enroll their children here and also to join with us and be part of what we are doing here.

TRA was founded on the belief that the family unit is the most important and fundamental community for children. The family is the only institution ordained by God to bring forth and raise up children. Deuteronomy 6: 4-7 calls God’s people to:

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” 

We take that command seriously.  We want our students to learn and practice loving God with all their heart, soul, and strength. Students who will become “faithful, wise and joyful Christian leaders” also need to learn the skills and tools for lifelong learning and leading wherever they go. They need to be eloquent speakers. Peter calls all of us to “always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect (ESV, 1 Peter 3:15b).” For our parents who desire their children to have the skills to respectfully share what they know and believe, we share the same goal of imparting the skills to do just that to our students.  

School was never meant to over take the place of parents. The best guidance, modeling, and instruction is done by intentional parents who are teaching and training their children as mentioned in the Shema, “when you sit at home, walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”  Teachers refer students to inquire of their own parents regularly. Even in secondary school classes when controversial topics are covered, students are told to talk to their families and ask their pastor.  

During the school day, parents should feel comfortable to pass their leading and teaching hat to the school (referred to as in loco parentis in classical speak). However, we enjoy, encourage, and need parents who want to help us in this daunting mission; it is critical. Parents who make time to be in the classroom or on the recess field now and then are best able to see the beauty of Christian and classical education in action. The amazing things we can accomplish here are only possible because of families who partner with us in the same goals for the students and in sharing the work (and play) that it takes to reach those goals. 

We are so thankful for each and every family who chooses to partner with us in our endeavor to educate Christian leaders, but there are even further opportunities to join us. Some parents extend their partnership with us by weekly assisting elementary teachers with reading stations, or overseeing recess. Some help out on Fridays with the secondary students during House time. Some grandparents have partnered with us by raking leaves or pulling weeds to help us keep this place looking fresh. Many of you pitch in with our events such as Reformation Day to ensure these beloved traditions continue. Recently, a family noticed an area of need for a less muddy place for elementary students to wait at the end of day pick-up and contributed the lovely and clean concrete at the elementary doors. Another partnered with all of us in a very helpful way by donating a top of the line new snowblower to help keep the sidewalks clear this winter. Dozens of you have purchased books to ensure our elementary classroom libraries are full of intentional, classical selections for our children to read. Thank you for seeing a need and filling a need.

We only succeed in educating Christian leaders with the help of God and the partnership of aligned families whose children, kindness, creativity, and generosity bless our TRA community. We continue to seek ways to constructively involve parents, grandparents, and other family members in the day to day activities of school as well as special events. Thank you for your continued partnership and for trusting us with your children.

2024 Secondary Chapel: Do you believe this? How then will you live?

At The River Academy, our Christian faith is not merely one of many cultural distinctives for our school profile, rather, it is the very heartbeat of who we are and all we do. This is why our students and staff take time to gather together once a week for chapel. For secondary students, this means a thirty-minute midweek meetup each Wednesday morning at 8am to seek the Lord together through singing and Scripture. 

In the midst of the hustle and bustle of schoolwork and sports and social life, gathering for chapel once a week is an oasis for quieting our hearts and finding refreshment and re-anchoring in the One who gives us truth and life and purpose in all we do. At the River, we don't view chapel as a religious requirement but as a happy huddle in the name and love of Jesus.  

In the beautiful gym where we meet, there hang four big, bold banners reminding us of the main distinctives of our school: Christian, Classical, Joyful, Relational. But the truth is that the following three virtues must flow from the first. A passion for sharp-minded lifelong learning, glad-hearted gusto for life, and strong bonds of committed camaraderie—one with another, ultimately flow from the Spirit of God, who made us for such good things, and flow through the saving grace we get in Christ. It is only as fully-alive Christians that we can fully enjoy education classically, joyfully, and relationally.  

In distinction from our individual Bible classes, though, chapel time helps us draw near the Fountain of our faith all together, as a body of believers. After all, even in the rhythms of school life, our faith is not walked out in isolation, but together in community. So, each Wednesday morning it is a joy to stand side-by-side and sing together of our hope in Jesus, led by a student worship team. Then we sit together for a brief message from the Bible, given by a staff member, student, or guest speaker. Parents are always welcome and encouraged to attend this special time together.

Practically, it helps our secondary students to see and appreciate one another in this chapel context: all together, side-by-side, singing and praying—not sentence-writing and problem-solving—so that when we are doing those academic activities throughout our classroom hours, it's not just as fellow students but hopefully in the spirit of brothers and sisters in Christ. Gathering corporately to hear reminders from the Bible about things like grace-based forgiveness helps us then walk it out in mutual accountability in the hallways and on the playfield.  

The truths we’re reminded of in chapel also come up regularly during our instructional time, either organically in discussion or through intentional integration by the teacher. The overall yearly chapel theme gives a unifying flavor and framework for our fellowship and focus as we follow Jesus through another school year together.  The past two years our chapel themes have been “Abide in Christ” and “All Things New.”  This year, we’re exploring the relationship between what we believe and how we behave through the theme: BELIEVE - with the L-I-V-E letters lit up to focus on this relationship between what we really believe and how we really live. 

Would you join us in praying for our secondary chapel times this year? May they be saturated by the Spirit of God, marked by humble reverence, caring camaraderie and sincere celebration, and may we then walk out well the commands of our king, side by side and bell to bell.

think!Mathematics: Math is a Language

Rhetoric, the crown jewel of Classical Education, was praised in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, with no or little emphasis placed on mathematics. Yet with each passing century and decade, classical circles have begun to recognize and praise the true value of students' understanding regarding the depth and complexity of mathematics. Many math programs teach the procedures of mathematics, but very few, if any, have understood that mathematics is its own language, and therefore its basic concepts must be understood at the earliest levels—just as any other language program.

As TRA continues to grow and improve, the administration conducted an evaluation with the elementary teachers and, as a result, changed the elementary mathematics program this summer in grades K-5 (we will add Grade 6 for the 25/26 school year). When contacted, many Classical Christian schools throughout the nation consistently praised one mathematics program above any others.

This robust new program, think!Mathematics, will continue to allow TRA to meet the needs of all students while retaining a high level of academic rigor. It is a Singapore-based program that is similar to our former Math in Focus program, however, this program more intentionally immerses students in math study with the underlying philosophy that mathematics is a language that must be understood in its own right. The program is structured so that every student is met exactly where they are in their level of understanding while also challenging them to keep building their understanding of the language of mathematics.

Each day’s lesson is structured to take around 60 minutes and includes five key components: explore, structure, journal, reflect, and practice. It differs from Math in Focus by including an anchor task, journaling, one lesson a day, one lesson spiraling, variation from lesson to lesson (within a unit), and a deeper understanding rather than surface-level learning. It also includes an amazing digital teacher toolkit and provides them with more ongoing training and support. This program also helps keep parents more accurately informed of what their children are learning in class each day.

Teachers have received training on this new program and are excited about the opportunity to teach math in this way. Further opportunities for professional development will also be available throughout the upcoming school year. We will also have a Family Math Game Night on Wednesday, November 6th from 6pm-7pm to help parents better understand this new program (more info to follow). 

Please see the diagram below that captures the overall philosophy of the program. Thank you for continuing to partner with us as we seek curriculum solutions that align more closely with our education model and better support our mission to educate the next generation of Christian leaders well. As always, please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.

In Christ,

Mike Picciottoli

Head of School

Partnering with Parents: The Long View of Education

Last week, we had our second Partnering with Parents night of the year. Our first was about True Grit, running the race with perseverance, while this time we talked about having a long view of education: not taking your child’s education in pieces, but looking at the end goal, the whole person to whom we hope to hand a diploma at the end of senior year. Have a long view of education, partnering with us along the way.

The River Academy’s Mission is “to partner with parents in educating their children to become the next generation of Christian leaders, equipped to shape culture through faithful, wise, and joyful Christian living,” by being “Thoroughly Christian, Innovatively Classical, Boldly Joyful, Intentionally Relational.” In other words, our primary goal is to produce students of character who have the skills to be lifelong learners, and who shape their communities with the love and grace of Christ. No matter what they do we want them to be critical thinkers who express themselves winningly, leading wherever they are. They need to be able to think, write, and speak well and to defend their faith.

I often think of these words from Ben Franklin, ruminating on the purpose of education for the public good: “Nothing is more important for the public wealth than to form and train youth in wisdom and virtue. Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom.” Yes, we are teaching your children how to do math, how to read, how to write, how to mix chemicals (safely) and identify formulas. But more importantly–most importantly–we hope that your children leave The River Academy at the end of their senior year loving the Lord, knowing that there is objective Truth supporting them, speaking and defending their faith, and demonstrating the love of the Lord in their communities–wherever they go.

So, we want to have a long view of education with that context in mind. If you’ve got a third grader–why keep him or her here until 12th grade, with all the challenges and difficulties that life throws at us? Traditional schooling views the student grade by grade, compartmentalized–did you pass your standardized test at the end of the year?—whereas we seek to educate the whole child: heart, body, soul, and mind. We see your child as more than a third grader–what will he or she look like as a seventh grader, a junior, a senior? No matter what they do, we want them to be critical thinkers who demonstrate virtue and  express themselves winningly, leading wherever they are. They need to be able to think, write, and speak well and defend their faith, as well as learn how to love people well. Moreover, working through hard things with a small group of people, led by mature Christian teachers, helps them love and work well with people who are different from them, which is something the panel parents mentioned repeatedly as a reason to keep kids here through senior year.

A complete classical education points toward the end, the bearing of fruit after laying down deep roots and cultivating the soil with dialectics and great books and discussions. The eleventh and twelfth grade years are the capstone years at TRA–they capitalize upon everything that came before in all respects, and it’s where those elements all come together. The higher level math and sciences bring together all the building blocks of reasoning and thought that they’ve laid out; rhetoric, apologetics, and humane letters all intertwine thematically, eliciting some of the most amazing, awe-inspiring discussions and speeches you’ll ever see. These last two years ready your children to step forth into the world and engage with whatever it throws at them. 

Classical methods have the greatest impact when a child enjoys a K-12 education (pulling a child out early doesn't allow the true fruit of classical education to be fully enjoyed). From root to trunk to leaf and fruit–stay with us, fight that good fight, and see the fruit that God is growing, even now when your child is in early elementary (or those chaotic early middle school years!). According to our panelists, it will be worth it. 

Why Latin?

I teach Latin. It’s an ancient language spoken by the Romans…maybe you’ve heard of it? 

Not all of my students are equally prepared to answer this question …and it is one that they, as well as I, will inevitably be asked by their aunts and uncles, grandparents and neighbors. “So…why Latin? And why Latin in Wenatchee? Isn’t Spanish more useful? Isn’t any spoken language more useful?” 

Fair point. Spanish is useful. But then, so is English. So is Arabic. So is Japanese. 

The fact remains that when one learns Spanish, one simply learns Spanish.  But when one learns Latin, one knows  a foundational language system necessary to master not only Spanish, but also English, Arabic, Russian, French, German - and yes, Japanese.  For this reason, teaching Latin is considered a hallmark of Classical education, which equips children not simply with facts but with tools they can use to learn any subject meaningful to their life. 

I won’t bore you with more generalizations. Here are the main reasons we teach Latin at TRA and find it meaningful: 

1.) Latin is the direct ancestor of Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Romanian, and the indirect ancestor of English. Over 50% of English words come directly from Latin. 

2.) Over 80% of multisyllabic words in English come from Latin, especially those technical terms common to the legal, medical, and scientific professions. 

3.) Unlike English, but like German, Arabic, Russian, etc. Latin is a case-based language.. Memorizing this system and understanding how it works gives students “the keys to drive” those other languages, even those with radically different vocabularies and alphabets.

4.) Because of these word endings, translating any Latin sentence is like putting together a puzzle. A sentence can’t simply be read left to right to understand it. This whole process develops mental discipline and critical-thinking strategies on a grand scale - skills that are useful for any other pursuit in life.

5.) Learning Latin is like gaining a superpower.  It literally grows your brain. 

6.) Latin is just hard. It takes grit, patience, courage, and willingness to try thinking in a wholly different way. 

To me personally, this is the most important reason I teach Latin. 

 There are several other good reasons to learn Latin, many of which are unpacked further here in this great (short) video made by Classical Conversations.

If you’ve had the patience to read this - thank you. And if you’d like to have further conversation, please stop by my classroom and drop any of the following codewords: vice versa, bona fide, pro and con, status quo, caveat, exit, et cetera,…you get the idea.  I would be very glad to meet you. 

Valete (be well),

Ashley Newby 

Why We Choose The River Academy: Five Families Share Their ‘Why’

We live in a choice-saturated culture. Choices are good. Competition is good. It’s no different when it comes to your child’s education. Next to following Jesus and choosing a spouse, it’s one of the most important decisions you will ever make.

As TRA parents, we are conscientiously and intentionally making a choice for our children by choosing The River Academy. We know that this decision does not come without sacrifice and a weighing of options when it comes to what is best for each individual child and family, and we mean it when we say that it is a privilege to partner with so many like-minded Christian families to “train up your child(ren) in the way they should go,” (Proverbs 22:6, ESV).

As we look to the future, it’s time to choose again. We asked some of our seasoned families to share why they chose our school and why they continue to choose the time-tested methodologies of classical Christian education at The River Academy.

The Erickson Family

Justin & Katie Erickson

“Our family's choice of The River Academy is steeped in a legacy that spans over 25 years. This enduring commitment is fueled by exceptional teachers who embody Christ's love daily, creating an environment where our children have the opportunity to flourish academically and personally. It is this and a commitment to excellence that has brought us back for the last five years.

We have seen year after year that these remarkable educators not only teach subjects but instill values of kindness and compassion, shaping our children's character in profound ways. The culture at TRA is not just about textbooks; it's a celebration of curiosity, creating a love for learning. The challenging peer environment, the nurturing culture, and the unwavering commitment to Christ-centered education have become part of the legacy that shapes our children's journey. TRA is not just a school; it's a heritage of excellence, a foundation that has stood the test of time, and now provides our children with an education that goes beyond the classroom, preparing them for a future of purpose and impact. This is why we are proud to partner with TRA in raising our kids.”

The Bishop Family

Nate & Jenni Bishop

“We love the TRA influence of God on our children and we can see it when we are at home, in the car, or wherever they are; they just begin singing the psalms and praising Jesus because TRA ingrains it in their day to day. We can see how well our children are loved and seen each day by everyone that walks the halls. TRA is different and embraces high standards, a love for learning, and is making a kingdom impact for years to come. We are a TRA family and proud to call the staff, parents, and families our community.”

Jason and Katie Mathews

“We first visited TRA looking for a Plan B if we didn't get into the public school of our choice. But after our visit, we left knowing it had quickly become our top choice. There was so much life and joy at the school that day we knew this was the best place for our children. This decision has been affirmed again and again in our four years at TRA. The academic work ethic instilled very early will certainly serve our kids well as they move into careers. We appreciate that they are challenged and pushed to work hard and not give up when they meet resistance.

That said, the biggest reason we chose TRA is that faith is the cornerstone of the whole system.  We have a number of specific examples from the last few years when truth has been spoken into our kids' lives. These truths build the foundation for their faith, character, and beliefs that they will one day, by God's grace, hold as their own. Our kids have learned about sin, brokenness, grace, forgiveness, and reconciliation all in one afternoon at TRA. These lessons have blessed not only our kids, but also our family and home. For all these reasons, we will continue to choose The River Academy.”

The Salcido Family

Malachi & Cathy Salcido

“Cathy and I originally decided our children would attend The River Academy before we were even parents. We were close with the McMullen family and saw the impact that the Classical and Christian education style was having on their three children: Katie, Kyle, and Kristen.  What they were learning, how it was very Bible and Christian worldview centric, as well as how the children generally handled themselves; that is what piqued our interest. The first time we attended the TRA Benefit Dinner, and saw each class perform, we were sold on TRA. That was over 20 years ago!

Now, we have our own children to point to: Breanna (TRA Class of ’20), Rianne (TRA Class of ’22), and Isabella (TRA Class of '24). We see Jesus and the impacts of the TRA education in all three of our daughters. They know the Word of God. They know how to think, learn, research, and articulate. They know how to do difficult assignments, how to study, how to defend their faith, how to be in relationship with others. We are so proud of all three of them! Seeing how God’s Spirit continues to lead this school, seeing how the staff and teachers continue to be on mission to both minister to and educate our children, seeing the organization continuing to strive to improve and be even better, seeing the eternal impact continuing to unfold in class after class – these are the reasons why we continue to choose TRA!”

The Tonge Family

Michael & Jericho Tonge

“When it came time to make schooling decisions, we recognized that homeschooling likely wouldn’t work well for our son, and we were afraid that, being relatively quiet, he would be easily overlooked in the large and varied classroom setting of a public school. We had heard wonderful things, though, about TRA’s academic rigor and classical approach, and we loved the thought of having our kids at a place where they would hear and interact with the same biblical truth around which we center our home. That is what brought our family to TRA.

But once we got there and began to integrate and experience life as part of The River Academy family, we found so much more than an educational paradigm and a biblical worldview. We found a cadre of loving, committed teachers and staff who believe in their school and want to grow and nurture the kids who attend. We found people who don’t just collect tuition and send report cards, but who tell us about the people they see our kids becoming, and who share with them about the story and God of the Bible, that they might know their Father, Creator, and Savior more truly. We have been trying over the years to routinely convey our appreciation to these wonderful folks for their love and commitment. We know that every single day our kids are in a place where they are exposed not just to facts, but to truth; they are supported not just by teachers, but by advocates who see and believe in their inherent beauty and identities as children of God; and they are not just learning with fellow students, but they are growing as people in the context of a healthy community. That is why we continue to choose TRA and will do so as long as God allows us to do so.”

We know you long to provide the best for your child and that you have a choice when it comes to their education, and we take this God-given responsibility seriously. This is why The River Academy has partnered with hundreds of families for more than 25 years to fulfill our mission of educating children to become the next generation of Christian leaders, equipped to shape culture through faithful, wise, and joyful Christian living. Thank you for continuing to partner with us on this critical mission.

Christmas in Conflict & Crisis

Thinking about the Christmas story this year, I was drawn to some of those wonderful words spoken to meek Mary as she held the baby Jesus in her new-mom arms:

“This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many…and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.  And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

— Lk. 2:34-35

Hmm, all those words weren’t so wonderful, were they?  Spoken against? …A sword shall pierce your own soul too?  Not exactly what you want to hear at the baby shower.  What a shiver that must have sent through Mary and Joseph!  As I pondered this prophecy, I was reminded of just how much conflict and crisis surrounds our Noel narrative.  

Of course, Mary - and we - are promised marvelous, sparkling Christmas-given glories like:  

“Good news of great joy that will be for all the people!”

— Lk. 2:10

“…Salvation through the forgiveness of [our] sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

— Lk. 1:77-79

“…a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel”

— Lk. 2:32

Naturally, we love the tender & sparkling details - angel choirs, starlight guidance, mystic visitors with exotic gifts; that sweet little manger (wait a tick - those of you who have been around real barnyards and animals and mucked out their mangers know that this maybe wasn’t the sweetest smelling scene!)  But these beautiful plot points and promises (to Mary and to us) also arrive with that ominous AND - “...and a sword will pierce your own soul too.”  And we remember just how much conflict and crisis are mingled with the merry moments of the Christmas chronicle.  

How ‘bout the anguish of near divorce (Matt. 1:19) and the searing scorn of future inlaws (Sure, Mary - it was a ‘miracle’!), or the trembling vulnerability of going into labor at night, outside in the chilly dark, with no doctors or clean sheets or modern medicine (Lk. 2:7)?  How ‘bout the fact that this new mom & dad had to go on the run and leave the family farmland to flee further from a bloodthirsty tyrant who was trying to have their newborn baby killed?  Conflict & crisis at Christmas!  And of course that chilling word to Mary would ultimately be fulfilled for this mom as she later watched with a sword-pierced heart of anguish as rough men murdered her precious son by nailing him to a Roman cross.   

Maybe you’re thinking, C’mon Hettick, ease up - this is supposed to be the Christmas Current!  Where are the holiday rhymes and ginger and jingles and chestnuts and chimes?  Well, those are cheery and good - like spiced cookies and ale - they're just not, just not…well, they’re just not the whole tale.  God’s word - like that prophesy to mother Mary back at Christmas #1 - directs us through crisis, as well as through fun.  And the grit and the grime - at least time-to-time - we need to hear and see and feel, because our muck and misery are just as close, just as real.

Perhaps, this year I was drawn to these difficult parts, because I see so many friends with pain in their hearts.  Right now, some of our people are suffering in health, lamenting lost love, surviving lost wealth.  We have brothers and sisters who are hurting and mad, with fractured families and faltering faith - some of us are quite broken and sad.  

So let us see in Scripture this year - alongside bright tidings of blessing and cheer - the very real dangers and darkness and fear.  Our Father of Christmas, our Savior of souls - holds his Light into the darkness - that’s just how he rolls.  This light, our Lord Jesus, carries us through our dismal times.  We know it, we sing it - just listen to our carol’d lines - 

The weary world rejoices - for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.  (sometimes feels far yonder!)

To save us all from Satan’s power when we had gone astray…O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy.

Assurance of comfort means much to those wracked in the midst of crisis and pain. Let us read the rest of the Testament and see it again. From first Christmas onward the road has been steep and rocky and narrow through darkness that’s deep. From manger to mocking, it's always through danger that He shepherds his sheep.  

Just read the first chapters of Peter and James of Job and of John.  You’ll see our pain’s purpose, it shouldn’t take long.  God’s purpose is clear, he’s making us strong. These verses have been to me lifegiving grace when the tears of the trials are staining my face.

So to all my hurting, haunted kindred friends, may Father Christmas soothe your soul to sleep, when you bring your conflicts and crises to the Christ who will keep, who will keep your hope burning through darkness that’s deep.  It’s the secret of Christmas, it’s the secret of life - He came into our misery to save us through strife.  This Christmas let’s raise a gingerbread cookie in the midst of our misery, our sadness or strife; we don’t suffer alone; Christ is with us - for Life.

Mary’s anguish was real, that’s clear and that’s true - but it’s in rugged suffering that Jesus says “Behold! I am making all things new.”  

MERRY CHRISTMAS

-Nathan Hettick, TRA Chaplain and Secondary Teacher

TRA Christmas Program

Mrs. Dagg has been hard at work preparing students for our newly reborn all-school Christmas program. This program will remind us of the miraculous birth of Jesus and different traditions from around the world celebrating that life-changing event. Every single elementary class will sing at least one song, and many of the older elementary students have solos or narrator parts.

Each year, when I hear the voices of those little people joyfully singing Christmas carols, it warms my heart and brings tears to my eyes. The secondary students will be singing one song all together with their teachers and there will be a special song by our choir elective students, but I predict the 7th grade class choir will be the surprise show stealer, as I’ve had the privilege of listening to them practice a few times. 

This year, our program will take place at Sage Hills Church because here on our TRA campus the largest gathering room, (now transformed into a real gym!) hasn’t been able to contain our entire student body plus parents and grandparents for a few years now. 

It takes a great deal of incredibly hard work to get something started from the ground up, and that’s exactly what Ruth Dagg has been doing. They have been studying and practicing rhythm, volume, pitch, tone, and key. Mrs. Villafuerte, who has a front row seat to every music class that parades by her desk and practices one thin door away, can attest to the growth that our students have experienced at the hands of Mrs. Dagg so far this year. The River Academy elementary students finally have a music class again, and Mrs. Dagg is preparing them to put on a program and we’re all just beaming with pride.  

The TRA Christmas program is a beautiful way to prepare our hearts for the joy of the Christmas season. We look forward to seeing you there! 

-Tonya Griffith, Secondary Principal

“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth!
Serve the Lord with gladness;
come before His presence with singing.

Know that the Lord, He is God;
it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.”

— Psalm 100: 1-3

Some TRA students from our 2018 Christmas program.

Perseverance

I often think about a C.S. Lewis quote–who doesn’t?–as I think about the landscape of education: “The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles but to irrigate deserts.” We often speak of education with battle imagery: “I’ve got to get ready for the invasion of 8th graders into my classroom,” or as a violent force of nature that must be conquered. There’s maybe some truth in that, at times, but our job isn’t to cut down jungles, to hack and slash at the vines and branches of culture today, but to irrigate the deserts of falsehoods and despair with the Living Water of Truth that streams from Christ Jesus. 

“The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles but to irrigate deserts”

— C.S. Lewis

We hope to instill in our students life-giving truths that will serve them in the desert of this world–and I’m not talking about the subjects that we teach. I’m talking about our shadow curriculum, the curriculum behind the subjects. Will our students, wherever they go next, write a 20-page paper that they work on and research for a year? Probably not. Will our students, wherever they go next, fill a whiteboard full of Calculus equations? Probably not. Will our students, wherever they go next, do Chemistry labs? Probably not. And you know what? That’s just fine. That’s not the true telos–the end goal–of our education at TRA. 

Our goal is to teach our students grit and perseverance in the midst of a world that tells them that ghosting a relationship is fine, that quiet-quitting is how you leave a job. All our projects and all our work is geared toward instilling skills in our students so that when they graduate, whatever they do next, they’re prepared to stand out and lead by example through their hard work.

Last week, we had our first official Partnering with Parents Night (formerly known as The Bridge), talking about grit and perseverance and how we hope to instill those virtues in our students. These Partnering with Parents nights are not intended to be lectures or sermons from the school to you, the parents, but conversations started, thoughts considered, and inspiration kindled (on both sides). In January, we’re going to be talking about The Long View of Education. If you’ve got kids in elementary or middle school, why in the world would you keep your kids at TRA through graduation? We’ll be trying to paint a picture of how everything comes together in upper high school and the holistic view of education at TRA. Please, come join us for this conversation!

-Tyler Howat, Dean of Academics

The TRA House System

Given that the Harry Potter books are not part of the TRA curriculum and Wenatchee is over 4,000 miles away from the United Kingdom, why is there a House System for TRA secondary students?

TRA prides itself on Christian, Classical education in a joyful and relational community. That’s right, we have a House System because we want secondary students to build and value community during a pivotal time of life. (We have no desire for students to speak with a British accent or add the letter “u” to various words.)

The House System is actually common in many classical schools throughout the country; and while it's beginnings grow out of the culture of British boarding schools, it's goals are just what we desire for students here at TRA- building relationships between older and younger students while teaching responsibility and cultivating in students a sense of ownership in their own education and school experience. These are not just goals that TRA values, but they are goals of classical education as a whole.

Just as we read in Genesis 2 that “it is not good for the man to be alone”, when we are all honest with ourselves, every one of us wants a close friend or to feel like part of the group. Read through the Book of Acts, and you will see over and over again that when God saved people through the preaching of the Gospel- the Good News- He then added those same people to a local body called the church (little “c”). God created us to be relational beings, and what better way to help students cultivate the skill of building relationships than by giving them the opportunity to learn how to interact with and lead each other in the school setting where they still have the guidance and direction of their teachers and mentors.

So what is the History of the TRA House System? About a decade ago, TRA teachers saw a void in the relational aspects of our older students and thought a house system would take steps to fill that void. The TRA House System was started by some teachers, but no one was in charge, so it fizzled. Soon, TRA grew enough to hire a Secondary Principal. Prior to that, we had only a Head of School, and a part time

Elementary Principal who also taught part time. The Secondary Principal was hired to be the principal, teach one class, and run House. That was in 2015-2016. This second version of the House System had a strong start and finish (along with house banquet), but it lacked organization in the middle months. Mrs. Koempel started working on House in the Fall of 2016. She worked to organize and grow the House System specifically by making the kids do some of the hard work, since part of a House System is developing students as leaders. Mrs. Koempel did a massive amount of work behind the scenes, but still, students were the ones that needed to carry the culture to make House truly successful. Things began to change once students were invested in House; students did the heavy lifting culture wise while Mrs. Koempel did the grunt work.

The TRA House System has fluctuated between three and four houses (Ten Boom being the most recent); different colors, mascots, verses, and characteristics were added during the 2015-2016 school year. Currently, every Friday afternoon, the Houses compete in various activities involving art, knowledge, and sports.

So, is the current TRA House System thriving or just surviving? Come see for yourself by stopping by any Friday afternoon from 12pm to around 1. I promise, you will not be disappointed as you watch healthy competition coupled with blossoming friendships, all exemplifying the joyful and relational distinctives that make TRA what it is today.

Mike Picciottoli, Head of School

(This history could not have been written without the help of Mrs. Koempel.)

Making All Things New

I was a garbage student. I spent class time reading other books and messing around with my fellow classmates. I did enough homework to generally pass–most of the time–but no more than that. I read all the books for my English classes, but just because I liked to read, not because of the classes themselves. And at least in English, I could pass without trying too hard. I have to think that my teachers just lived in constant disappointment with me. I had no grit to do things that I didn't want to do–I needed the Lord to renew my mind and heart. 

Although my schoolwork was lacking, I had a great job at a pizza place–Mio's pizza, the best pizza in Cincinnati with a creamy garlic dressing that I am still trying to recreate to this day. I was 17 and I was the assistant manager. I had some money in my pockets and a girlfriend–what more could anyone want? Well, one day after having to lecture a 40-year-old man about coming to work on time because he was our only delivery driver, I went home and realized that this was not the career I had in mind. I wanted to go to college and grow my mind. 

“I had no grit, no determination to push through and do hard things that I didn’t want to do when in high school. But the Lord started to renew my mind–not exactly my bank account–but my attitude and my desires.”

How I decided to become a teacher is another story for another day, and I am not saying that college is the only option–do you know that we are not simply training our students to be college professors? When I have them write essays, it's not merely so that they might be good college writers–that might be a good side benefit. When I have them write essays, or when Mrs. Koempel gives them an equation, or when Mrs. Baker creates an epic lab, or when elementary teachers assign Math facts and memorize grammar chants, we're giving them tools for life. Tools for organizing their minds, for structuring their thoughts, for defending themselves well. Not merely to become college students and then college professors–whatever our students do after graduation, we want them prepared in their minds as much as in their characters.

Unfortunately, once I discovered that I did want to go to college, I was faced with my horrible GPA and terrible grades.  And when I finished college in 2008, I had $97,000 in student loans—direct results of my terrible choices. I had no grit, no determination to push through and do hard things that I didn't want to do when in high school. But the Lord started to renew my mind–not exactly my bank account–but my attitude and my desires.

So, today, let's delve into the powerful words of Revelation 21:5, where our Lord declares, "Behold, I am making all things new." This is the theme for Secondary Chapel this year. These words are a promise of hope, renewal, and transformation that we all need to hear, and we're promised that these words are trustworthy.

First, who is giving this promise to us? What, from this verse, do we know about him? He, Jesus Christ, is seated on the throne. What does that tell us? He is Lord. He is in control. Not us, not me, not you, not your parents, not your teachers, not Mr. Picciottoli. The Lord is in control–in Him and through Him all things hold together (Colossians 1:16-17). This verse encapsulates God's promise to bring about a profound renewal in every aspect of creation. In a world marked by decay, suffering, and brokenness, this promise offers incredible hope. This means that not only our souls but also the very earth we inhabit will be transformed.

God's promise begins with the transformation of our hearts. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we experience spiritual rebirth and renewal (2 Corinthians 5:17). God replaces our hearts of stone with hearts of flesh, enabling us to love Him and others more deeply. In God's new creation, there will be no division, hatred, or strife. Instead, we will experience perfect unity and love (Revelation 21:3). So why wait for that to happen? Does that mean that we should all just continue in the conflicts we're all stuck in? This renewal extends to our relationships with one another. He calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:39). We are a new creation in Him–so let’s do that. 

While God's promise of renewal is sure, we are not passive observers but active participants in this process. He calls us to be agents of change and ambassadors of God's love in the world (2 Cor 5:20). Furthermore, we must allow God to continually renew our hearts and minds through prayer, reading His Word, and seeking His guidance. As we are transformed, we can be instruments of change in our communities–that includes at The River Academy.

We can all tend to see ourselves as passive creatures in His Creation, just waiting for God to act without having to do anything else. But think through Scripture: Ruth was a homeless Moabite widow who acted in Faith–look what God did in her life: she became the grandmother of King David. God wants to make even the smallest things in your life new; in your daily routines and habits and sins, pray for God to work in your life and to redeem those things. He does care and does good for those who have faith in and love him.

In Revelation 21:5, we find a message of hope, renewal, and transformation that transcends time and circumstance. God invites us to be a part of this grand renewal project, starting with our hearts, extending to our relationships with one another and with Him. Let us be a people who eagerly anticipate the day when God fulfills His promise to make all things new, and may we be active, prayerful participants in this glorious work of transformation. And that is why, through each and every Secondary Chapel this year, we're learning how God makes all things new.

-Tyler Howat, Dean of Academics

Loving the Lord by Loving One Another!

Chapel is a time that we gather as an elementary team, grades K-6, to pray, worship God by singing psalms, learn more about God and the Bible, and celebrate the good deeds that elementary students have been doing around the school that week to bless others. A teacher or staff member (and perhaps on occasion a secondary rhetoric student) will explain God’s Word on a specific topic so that kids can begin to see how the Bible applies to their lives and grow their personal relationship with Jesus. Occasionally chapel will be replaced with an assembly on a specific topic (like why we celebrate Reformation Day) or for students to present to each other some of the memory work learned in different classrooms. 

TRA’s mission is to partner with parents to educate the next generation of Christian leaders equipped to shape culture through faithful, wise, and joyful Christian living. In the elementary years, leadership training means teaching, encouraging, and giving lots of opportunities for students to practice and develop the habits of respect, obedience, attentiveness, and responsibility (ROAR). When teachers or staff notice a student showing exceptional kindness or leadership in one of these areas, the student is sent to my office to celebrate the good deed reflecting love for God and one another. (Hebrews 10:24, our elementary verse for 2023-24) This celebration involves writing his/her name, date, and description of the “good deed” in my special book. The star students are then given a big gold star sticker to wear on his/her shirt for the rest of the day, and receive a raffle ticket for a monthly drawing among all gold star winners. The winner of our Good Deeds raffle receives a pizza party on the first Friday of the month for his/her entire class during lunchtime, courtesy of generous elementary parents!  We want students to know that thinking of others and developing the ROAR habits and leadership skills are a big deal here at TRA and something to be celebrated! Gold Star students are recognized weekly at chapel so that others can learn from and celebrate their good deeds too.

In addition to ROAR, this year we are cultivating some new good habits, called virtues, to help us act according to God’s Word and His love for us. Each month students will be introduced to one of seven virtues (prudence, faith, charity, hope, temperance, fortitude, and justice) and encouraged to practice living out that virtue. Elementary teachers will be on the lookout for students demonstrating specific growth in the monthly virtue and nominating a few students a month for a “Growing in Virtue” award. These awards will be presented several times at elementary chapel throughout our school year as another way to spur one another on towards love and good deeds. (Hebrews 10:24)

Click on the link to Elementary Chapel Schedule in the Parent Resources section of your FACTS account for information on chapel dates, speakers, and topics. We hope to see you there! If you are unable to attend, we plan to record all Elementary Chapel talks and post them in the Google calendar event details found by logging into FACTS. You also can find a YouTube playlist of the audio from the elementary chapel speakers we’ve recorded HERE.

-Lisa Hysom, Elementary Principal

Reformation Day FAQ

Q - Why do we celebrate Reformation Day?

A - 500 years ago on October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed a list of ninety-five theses to the castle church door in Wittenberg, Germany, in hopes of garnering  a scholarly debate regarding the current practices of the church. We celebrate the glorious return to the Truths of Scripture that Martin Luther and the countless other men and women fought, suffered, and died to reinstate.

Q - Do we celebrate Reformation Day instead of Halloween?

A - TRA celebrates Reformation Day on the Friday closest to October 31st. Luther’s chose this date strategically; he knew a massive number of people would see his topics the following morning when the church celebrated All Saints Day on November 1st. TRA does not consider Reformation Day a replacement for Halloween but, rather, its own holiday worthy of our celebration for the changes Martin Luther prompted 500 years ago.

Costumes and hallway decoration examples from our Literary Characters theme for Reformation Day 2022.

Q - How do the themes of Reformation Day work?

A - We have 4 rotating themes: Biblical, Narnia, European Reformation (or a particular country's reformation), Literary Characters (choose a specific book or allow students to choose a general literary favorite character).

Q - Can you give me some examples of costumes for each theme?

A - Typical garb includes any outfits that fit within the theme’s historical time frame. Often students like to dress as inanimate or more abstract objects that reflect each theme (for this year’s Bible theme for example, being Noah’s ark or the burning bush or the fruits of the Spirit).

Q - What costumes/accessories are not allowed?

A - We encourage costume creativity, but we do not dress up as anything that may be irreverent, scary, or upsetting to a young child. Specifically, we don’t dress up as Jesus, God, Satan, any demon, superheroes, or current day characters. 

Q - Can costumes include fake weapons?

A - Masks and costume weapons may be worn only during costume contest/parade and must be stored in a backpack or bag in the hall otherwise. "Weapons" must be foam or plastic. No metal or wood weapons are permitted. Any costume accessory that is distracting or misused will be kept in Mrs. G's office until the end of the school day.

Q - Can my student partner with friends for a group costume?

A - Yes! We’ve seen some very creative group costumes over the years. Partner up and get creative! Just make sure it is appropriate to the theme and respectful of the guidelines.

Q - What if my student doesn’t want to dress up?

A - That is okay! If they choose not to dress up, they may wear their regular uniform.They are more than welcome to join the fun and games of the day’s activities and feast with us without a costume. It’s not a requirement, it’s just a wonderful opportunity to celebrate in a creative way. 

Q - Are students allowed to dress up in their Halloween costumes for Reformation Day?

A - As a general rule, no. However, if the student had planned to dress up as a character that matches our theme for the year, Yes! A few examples would be a knight during a year that our theme is the Reformation, 1517, or the theme is Literature, and they want to be a knight from The Knight's Tale.

Q - Are students allowed to wear their Halloween costumes on Halloween day (if it falls on a school day)?

A - No costumes on Halloween; regular uniforms, please.

Q - What kind of activities do the students get to experience?

A- Students rotate through themed games and activities, a pie baking contest, a costume parade, a traditional feast, and lots of friendly competition!

Q - What is a rough outline of the day?

A - The morning begins with hallway judging for the secondary students, classroom costume judging for the elementary students, followed by a school-wide costume parade, games and activities, a feast for lunch, and ending with more games and activities. At the end, we celebrate the best costumes with an awards ceremony!

Q - Do I still pack lunch for my student?

A - We provide a traditional feast for all students, faculty, and volunteers involved in the day’s activities. Typically, the menu is roasted chicken, baked potatoes, roasted carrots, rolls with butter, a drink, and PIE!

Q - Who does all the hall decorations?

A - As one of the beloved House activities, our secondary students come together and decorate the downstairs halls. Hall decorating is one of the activities that we consider a "right of passage" which younger students may look forward to doing when they enter secondary and are placed in a House..

Q - How can I help with Reformation Day?

A - We always need helpers to prepare and serve the feast on the day of Reformation Day. Please email Mrs. Lane at yvonne.lane@thervieracademy.org to kindly volunteer your time. Thank you!

Q - If I volunteer, should I dress up as well?

A - You don’t need to dress up to be a volunteer, but you’re welcome to join the fun with a theme appropriate costume!

If you’re curious to know more about Reformation Day and what it means to TRA as a tradition, you can read last year’s blog about it HERE.

Some literary characters from Reformation Day 2022.

Who Do You Follow?

After hours of listening to Elves, Dwarfs, Men, and a Wizard discuss forces greater and more terrible than his small Hobbit self had ever considered, Frodo offers to take the Ring to Mordor. “‘I will take the Ring,’ he said, ‘though I do not know the way’” (Tolkien 270). He is faced with a monumental task: journeying through dark and perilous realms, carrying a burden that tempts him and draws evil things to him along the way. And so, he needs guides and protectors to show him the right way. He needs role models. And don’t we all?

“Therefore, we should not imitate the values, attitudes, and behaviors of those who do not know God or obey His will, but rather seek to emulate those who love God and strive to live according to His principles.”

We’re all–whether or not we like to see ourselves as the diminutive halfling–like Frodo as we enter this wide world. We’ve never done this thing called life before. We’ve never navigated the intricacies of school, of friends, of faith, of society before. So, we need to find people who’ve done it before and learn from them. But there are so, so many voices competing for our attention, many magnified with the influencer’s megaphone. Paul warns us not to conform to the pattern of this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2). Therefore, we should not imitate the values, attitudes, and behaviors of those who do not know God or obey His will, but rather seek to emulate those who love God and strive to live according to His principles. 

Rather than give you a list of which role models to avoid and who to follow, consider some of these criteria by asking the following questions:

Who is their authority? 

Godly role models acknowledge that God is the ultimate authority in their lives and submit themselves to His word and will. They seek to know God’s truth and to apply it to their lives. They are not swayed by human opinions or traditions but test everything by the standard of Scripture. Worldly role models, on the other hand, rely on their own wisdom or follow the trends and fashions of the world. They may ignore or reject God’s word and His will, or twist it to suit their own preferences. They are influenced by what is popular or acceptable in society, rather than what is pleasing to God (Psalm 119:105; Colossians 2:8; James 1:22; James 3:13-18).

Does their purpose and motivation strive for glory on Earth or in Heaven? 

Godly role models have a clear telos for their lives: to glorify God and to serve Him and others. They are driven by love and gratitude for what God has done for them, and they seek to honor Him with their talents, resources, and opportunities. They are neither selfish nor greedy, but generous and sacrificial. They are neither proud nor arrogant, but humble and teachable (1 Cor 10:31; Matt 22:37-29; Matt 25:40; Phil 2:3-4). Worldly role models have a different purpose and motivation for their lives: to gratify themselves and to gain power, fame, or wealth. They are driven by lust and greed for what the world offers them, and they seek to use their talents, resources, and opportunities for their own benefit. They are neither generous nor sacrificial, but stingy and exploitative. They are neither humble nor teachable, but proud and arrogant (Prov 16:18; Matt 6:19-21; Acts 8:19-25).

Does their character and conduct reflect Christ-like principles? 

Godly role models exhibit the fruit of the Spirit in their character and conduct: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). They demonstrate integrity, honesty, justice, mercy, forgiveness, and compassion in their relationships with others. They resist temptation and flee from sin rather than revel in it. They repent when they make mistakes and seek reconciliation when they offend others. Worldly role models exhibit the works of the flesh in their character and conduct: hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, sexual immorality, and the like (Galatians 5:19-21). They show dishonesty, injustice, cruelty, bitterness, resentment, and indifference in their relationships with others. They indulge in sin and justify their actions. They do not repent when they make mistakes or seek reconciliation when they offend others. More often than not, they may double down on such sin.

Who do we look for?

We should all seek out older people who are willing to mentor and disciple us in our faith journey. Titus 2:2-8 emphasizes the importance of older women and men teaching younger women and men, guiding them to live godly lives that are worthy of respect, not for their economic or social or political domination, but for the good they have done for the Kingdom of God.

Men can benefit from looking up to strong male role models who embody the qualities of godly leadership and responsibility. Consider individuals like Joseph, who displayed unwavering integrity and leadership in challenging situations (Genesis 39:7-23). Men should also look to role models who prioritize their families and demonstrate love, respect, and commitment to their spouses and children. Ephesians 5:25 calls men to love their wives as Christ loved the church. Women can draw inspiration from the many godly women in the Bible, such as Ruth, Esther, and Mary. These women displayed courage, faith, and obedience to God's will. Moreover, Proverbs 31:10-31 provides a beautiful description of a virtuous woman. Look for role models who exhibit qualities like diligence, compassion, and a heart for serving others.

Who do you admire? Who do you look to as a paragon of truth and goodness? Who do you imitate? Do they reflect Godly character? Or do they keep you looking squarely at the things of this world? At TRA, we hope to expose our kids to a wide range of characters through the books we read and the history we study so that, in this safe space, we can guide them through the discernment process. We also hope, as teachers, that we’re living that out for them–we crave your prayers as we attempt to model the Christian life for your kids.

Frodo’s humble admission that he did not know the way was answered eightfold by the people who joined him in his quest (though I think he used discernment in not really listening to the falderal of Merry and Pippin)–cue the swelling music and the promises of swords, bows, and axes. He surrounded himself with and gleaned advice and wisdom from the noble and virtuous people around him (though they were still fallible), preparing him for his noble purpose and guarding him against the wiles and temptations of the Evil One. 

-Tyler Howat, Dean of Academics