Our Foundation: Mind, Heart, and Soul
Our purpose is to cultivate the minds and hearts of students through the pursuit of Truth, Goodness, and Beauty, all grounded in the person of Jesus Christ. As a classical Christian school, we are known for cultivating our students’ minds through rigorous academics. However, our devotion to the formation of their hearts and souls is equally fundamental and flows directly from our understanding that each child bears the image of God.
Through Socratic instruction, our teachers are developing a love of learning and a desire to seek Truth, the ultimate Truth found in Christ. Through classical works of art, whether poetry, music, or paintings on the wall, our teachers are imparting an appreciation for Beauty that reflects the Creator. And through modeling Christlike virtue, our teachers are guiding students’ hearts toward Goodness. Our teachers understand that they are not managing machines but shepherding souls. This sacred calling requires both wisdom and love, discipline and tenderness, truth and grace.
The Sacred Beginning: Why Kindergarten Matters
The kindergarten year is not merely preparation for future learning; it is the foundation upon which all else is built. What a child receives into their heart and mind during these tender years becomes the soil from which their character grows. This is why we are so intentional about the atmosphere we create, the stories we tell, the virtues we model, and the love we pour into each young soul. As Scripture reminds us, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). These early years are not merely about learning letters and numbers; they are about forming habits of heart that will shape a lifetime.
Plato understood something profound about the beginning years of a child’s life when he wrote: “You know that the beginning is the most important part of any work, especially in the case of a young and tender thing; for that is the time at which the character is being formed and the desired impression is more readily taken…” The upbringing of a child is time-sensitive, and at Great Hearts Christian Academies, we take this insight seriously.
Education as an Act of Love
Everyone can agree that teaching is not an easy job. But the work of leading students is, above all, an act of love, a reflection of the love Christ has shown us. And biblical love is not merely sentiment or affection; it is patient, kind, and intentional (1 Corinthians 13:4). It is a love that seeks the highest good of the beloved, even when that requires correction, discipline, and challenge.
As our teachers interact with students, their goal is to foster the individual growth of virtuous habits in both the heart and mind of each child, recognizing that every student is fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). This is love in action; love that believes the best, hopes for the best, and labors sacrificially to call forth the best in every child.
The Apostle Paul reminds us that “love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:6). True love, then, cannot be separated from truth, excellence, and virtue. To love a child biblically means to hold high expectations for their character and their learning, to correct them when they stray, and to celebrate their growth with joy. This is the love our teachers embody, a love that is both tender and strong, gentle and unwavering.
Biblical love is deeply personal and particular. Jesus knew His disciples by name, understood their weaknesses, and called them forward into their best selves. In the same way, our teachers seek to know each child individually, their unique strengths, their struggles, their personalities, and the particular ways they receive love and encouragement.
This is the heart of classical Christian education in the early years: we see each child, we know each child, and we love each child, not despite our high expectations, but precisely because of them. We believe every child is capable of greatness when given the right soil in which to grow. And like the wise gardener who prunes the vine so it can bear more fruit (John 15:2), we understand that love sometimes looks like challenge, correction, and high standards, all offered in the context of relentless commitment to each child’s flourishing.
“We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Our teachers’ capacity to love your children flows from their understanding of how deeply they themselves are loved by God. And it is this love, biblical, sacrificial, truth-filled, that transforms our kindergarten classrooms into places where young hearts can truly flourish.
Nurture and Rigor: A Biblical Both/And
Some may wonder if rigor and nurture can truly coexist. But consider the character of God Himself. He is both lion and lamb, both just and merciful, both truthful and gracious. In the same way, our classrooms reflect this beautiful both/and: we hold high standards because we love deeply; we correct with gentleness because we believe in each child’s potential; we challenge young minds because we are committed to their flourishing.
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17). Sharpening is not unkind; it is necessary for growth. But it must be done with skill, patience, and love.
The Atmosphere We Create
In these foundational kindergarten years, we are intentional about creating an atmosphere where young hearts can flourish. Our classrooms are places where:
• Wonder is cultivated through rich stories, living books, and beautiful poetry
• Character is formed through consistent modeling of biblical virtues
• Curiosity is celebrated through biblical study, discovery, and questions
• Excellence is expected because we believe every child bears God’s image
• Love is demonstrated through patient instruction, gentle correction, and joyful celebration
We are not simply preparing children for first grade; we are laying the foundation for a life of virtue, wisdom, and service to God and neighbor. And in these tender kindergarten years, when character is being formed and impressions become indelible, we will steward this precious season with the gravity and joy it deserves, shaping not just scholars, but souls who will one day lead and serve their communities for the glory of God.
This is our calling. This is our joy. This is classical Christian education at its very best.
