SBCA Blog

Despite the return of some freezing temperatures these past two weeks, the signs of spring are abundant. The birds are back and singing their lively songs each morning. The southwest wind has swept away the ice and snow. And perhaps most notably, green and growing things have once again returned: grass is sprouting, trees are budding (though not yet in the full green glory of their foliage), and wildflowers are beginning to bloom. Bright spots of white, yellow, purple, and blue dot lawns everywhere.   These physical signs of the changing season also speak to a deeper supernatural reality: we have entered [...]

Developing the art of writing can pose a difficult task, particularly in knowing where to begin. This difficulty is further compounded when teaching the skill to young minds who often believe writing to be taxing and more tedious than enjoyable. However, writing is one of the most human and celebrated forms of expression. Everyone enjoys a good story so it seems problematic that despite our natural inclination towards writing, so many are at a loss as to how to write themselves. Today, I often hear teachers trying to foster creativity by doing away with boundaries and parameters. These are said to [...]

A typical first-grade morning begins with a prayer and a story. Virtue education is at the very center of the culture of St. Benedict Classical Academy. The curriculum is imbued with examples and opportunities for virtue. Perhaps the most compelling means of teaching virtue is through literature. Living stories offer a valuable opportunity of modeling virtue to our students in order to form the moral imagination. Great stories allow children to enter into the world of the characters, to identify with their motivations, strengths, and struggles in a way that they will wish to acquire the qualities they admire in these [...]

Growing up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, I was part of a Catholic community, went to church, and received the Sacraments, all while attending public school. As a child, I remember enjoying my time at school each day. I liked my classes, learned a lot, had some of the best friends you could ask for, and spent plenty of time playing outside with my friends. After graduating high school and attending Bloomsburg University, I pursued the other part of my happy childhood equation and became a school teacher.   My first job after graduating was as a fifth-grade teacher in a Fairfax County public [...]

One of my most prized possessions is a dainty Celtic cross necklace given to me by my great-grandparents. This necklace was something I was very proud of growing up; I didn’t know of anyone else my age who owned something so special. As I’ve grown older, I’ve come to realize that this special gift is more than just a necklace. My great-grandparents were very faithful Catholics who immigrated to America from Ireland in their early 20s. Although they never had much, they held close to their faith and made it a priority in their lives setting a strong example for their [...]

Have you ever wondered how you will survive something difficult, or why God permits suffering in your life, or in the life of someone you care about? When you face something disappointing, worrisome, or difficult, and wonder how you will endure it, I invite you to find meaning and purpose in my favorite mystery of the rosary. Our faith gives us the beautiful tradition of the Holy Rosary, a series of repeating, familiar prayers that form the background for contemplation of twenty great mysteries from the lives of Jesus and Mary. These mysteries of faith are full of meaning and [...]

As we begin the final week of February and anxiously await those seemingly far-off summer days, I am reminded of an experience I had three summers ago. During Adoration on a very special retreat, I felt God knocking at the door of my heart, inviting me to welcome Him more deeply into my life. Shortly after, during an evening conversation with Fr. Mike Zimmerman at a Catholic young adult group gathering, I heard God’s voice in my heart, gently and repeatedly saying, “You are so loved.” When I arrived home that night, my mom noticed my tear-filled eyes. She looked at [...]

In January at St. Benedict Classical Academy students focus on artists from the Renaissance. This "rebirth period" has a wealth of beautiful works that inspire the artists we study. In art class each week, we learn about the famous four: Donatello, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Leonardo da Vinci. Donatello made his first appearance as SBCA’s featured artist of the month. We examined his sculpture of St. John the Evangelist, a true mountain of a saint, older and bearded, looking past the viewer towards the horizon. We discuss masterpieces such as Michelangelo's Pietà and David, Raphael's School of Athens, and Da Vinci's... [...]

Although I’ve taught at St. Benedict Classical Academy for nine years, last year was my first time teaching Kindergarten. Over the summer, I reflected on ways to deepen our classroom’s faith life and knew I wanted to bring the lives of the Saints more intentionally into our daily routine. This year, I’ve done that in a few meaningful ways. One of the first changes I made was renaming our Kindergarten classroom tables after Saints instead of using colors, as I did the previous year. Each circle table is now named after one of four patron saints of education: St. Frances Xavier [...]

As we celebrate Catholic Schools Week, let us reflect on the great gift of a “Catholic education.” Moments with God are essential for faith formation, and attending a Catholic school plays a monumental role in building this relationship with God. Faith is fostered first and foremost at home through family traditions, daily rituals, and discussions. Just as babies grow and learn how to eat, talk, and play, they also begin to know Jesus and explore aspects of their faith through their family. Babies are surrounded by love, joy, and hope while in the womb as they listen to their family's prayers. [...]