Sharing treasures old and new!
And Jesus said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.” (Matthew 13:52)
What we are seeking to do is to establish A NEW K-12 CATHOLIC GRAMMAR SCHOOL under the spiritual patronage of Saint Theodore of Canterbury, who was the Seventh Archbishop of Canterbury (668-690). It is our aim to help parents with their responsibilities in raising their children in the development of the whole person as a well-rounded individual equipped for life in today's world.
What we are seeking to do is to establish A NEW K-12 CATHOLIC GRAMMAR SCHOOL under the spiritual patronage of Saint Theodore of Canterbury, who was the Seventh Archbishop of Canterbury (668-690). It is our aim to help parents with their responsibilities in raising their children in the development of the whole person as a well-rounded individual equipped for life in today's world.
What is our aim for this school?
Our aim is to deliver a Catholic education within the classical tradition, particularly as developed historically in England. We will strive to form the whole person, soul, mind and body. We seek to form tomorrow's creators of culture, giving our scholars the keys into the deeper aspects of language, thinking, and acting. To achieve this we will emphasise the classical performing arts (music, dance and drama), classical languages (Latin and Ancient Greek), and classical physical activities (including, among other things, rowing, horse riding, wrestling, callisthenics, athletics and gymnastics). Our academic and technical education will be within the overall framework of the Western Australian Curriculum.
The Catholic Church teaches that, "Parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children" (C.C.C. 2223). A school's role, as an extension of the loving home environment, therefore, is to assist parents in that primary task of nurturing the intellectual, moral, physical and spiritual development of their children as they grow in body, mind, in virtue and in the exercise of the faith. We seek to help young individuals to reach their full human potential and flourishing as beloved children of God, so that they can meet confidently the changes, chances and challenges they will encounter throughout their lives in an ever-evolving world, and grow towards the attainment of the beatific vision of God in this life and that to come.
The Catholic Church teaches that, "Parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children" (C.C.C. 2223). A school's role, as an extension of the loving home environment, therefore, is to assist parents in that primary task of nurturing the intellectual, moral, physical and spiritual development of their children as they grow in body, mind, in virtue and in the exercise of the faith. We seek to help young individuals to reach their full human potential and flourishing as beloved children of God, so that they can meet confidently the changes, chances and challenges they will encounter throughout their lives in an ever-evolving world, and grow towards the attainment of the beatific vision of God in this life and that to come.
How will the school be structured?
The Threefold Shape of the School
At Saint Theo's, Pre-Primary to Year 12 will be divided into three 'schools', reflecting the traditional divisions of the classical 'Trivium.' Each school will have a central focus. At the base of the teaching and learning in each of these 'schools' will be a central core of the development of grammatical, logical, or rhetorical ability in our pupils. The three 'schools' will be:
At Saint Theo's, Pre-Primary to Year 12 will be divided into three 'schools', reflecting the traditional divisions of the classical 'Trivium.' Each school will have a central focus. At the base of the teaching and learning in each of these 'schools' will be a central core of the development of grammatical, logical, or rhetorical ability in our pupils. The three 'schools' will be:
- Grammar (P to Year 4) -- learning the basics, the content, the mechanics of language, skills, and knowledge across all subject areas;
- Logic (Years 5 to 8) -- learning to understand, exploring dialectic, and the ability to make cohesive arguments and sound judgements, including how to craft and polish writing and composition across all subject areas; and
- Rhetoric (Years 9 to 12) -- learning self-awareness, wisdom, advanced skills, confidence, and the ability to communicate effectively in their communities and with the world around them.
What will the curriculum of the school be like?
Saint Theo's will structure its programme around the Western Australian curriculum. In order to deliver the classical aspects of our programme, will be creating our own textbooks, the Saint Theodore's Classical Curriculum series. This will be developed across all the eight disciplinary areas of the Western Australian curriculum, and will be used throughout the school both to implement the curriculum and enhance it to a much richer level. These textbooks will deliver the demands of the mandated norms, and then they will go far beyond them.
Classes will be taught using classical pedagogical techniques. The content will be enhanced by the great works of literature, especially reflecting a solid core of history from the Venerable Bede to Sir Winston Churchill down to our own day. Rote learning, chants, mnemonics, and collective memorisation will be part of how children learn, because learning together reinforces memory and retention of information. In terms of Religious Education, this will be provided by the Spirit of Truth series from Sophia Press.
Mathematics, the Sciences and English will be discovered as languages to be absorbed and used. Pupils will study the classics of Western literature, the Catholic Faith, the Bible, Latin and Ancient Greek, Music, Dance, Drama, Visual Arts, Manual Arts and Craft, Ancient, Medieval and Modern History and Geography, as well as practical financial management and Economics.
Classes will be taught using classical pedagogical techniques. The content will be enhanced by the great works of literature, especially reflecting a solid core of history from the Venerable Bede to Sir Winston Churchill down to our own day. Rote learning, chants, mnemonics, and collective memorisation will be part of how children learn, because learning together reinforces memory and retention of information. In terms of Religious Education, this will be provided by the Spirit of Truth series from Sophia Press.
Mathematics, the Sciences and English will be discovered as languages to be absorbed and used. Pupils will study the classics of Western literature, the Catholic Faith, the Bible, Latin and Ancient Greek, Music, Dance, Drama, Visual Arts, Manual Arts and Craft, Ancient, Medieval and Modern History and Geography, as well as practical financial management and Economics.
How will the school address Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and other more contemporary educational priorities?
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cross-Curricular Priorities of the Western Australian Curriculum will be set in this broader educational context so that they can be offered within the light of a holistic approach to human development and society. We will ask questions such as, How can myth and story inform our culture, be they Greek or Nyoongar? What can we learn from a traditional people's approach to social relationships? How might learning traditional dances shape our understanding of the person in an environment? and so on. Respect, dialogue and also the curiosity to know and experience how different people understand what it is to be human will help shape the syllabus at Saint Theo's. Our aim is that pupils will interact and engage with First Nations peoples and traditions creatively, sympathetically and fruitfully.
In later years — the Rhetoric stage — Ethics and Philosophy will be introduced, so that students will be equipped to deal with the intellectual issues gripping the contemporary world and so that they can access the treasured Catholic philosophical traditions and understand the complexities of Catholic Theology at a deeper level.
In later years — the Rhetoric stage — Ethics and Philosophy will be introduced, so that students will be equipped to deal with the intellectual issues gripping the contemporary world and so that they can access the treasured Catholic philosophical traditions and understand the complexities of Catholic Theology at a deeper level.