Transmitting Faith and Wonder.
K-8 at Padre Pio Academy
“Education is more than transference of knowledge, it is the transmission of values, culture and the proper ordering of loves.”
— The Liberal Arts Tradition - Ravi Jain & Kevin Clark
Our Approach
At Padre Pio Academy, we are dedicated to teaching to the whole person, honoring both the mind and the soul, and encouraging the growth of wisdom, virtue, goodness, and the discernment of truth. We utilize a classical academic program based upon the Trivium of grammar, logic, and rhetoric. Students are taught grammar (the basic building blocks of each subject such as phonics, math axioms, and historical facts) and then encouraged to ask questions, make deductions and draw conclusions from the material as they develop their capacity for logic and, ultimately, their ability to express the truth.
A cohesive worldview is presented that honors God as the source and summit of all that is true, good, and beautiful.
We emphasize the order of learning as moving from part to whole; we teach the most basic units and work up to more complex systems. While grammar is the anchor of early grades where we focus heavily on building a foundation of learning, grammar permeates every grade and subject. Logic and rhetoric are also introduced early on in learning, but don’t become the main focus until rudimentary knowledge is gained, and the skills of debate, questioning, linking ideas and complex thinking begin to arise.
The goal of the curriculum is not simply to teach students ‘what’ to think, but to give them the resources, knowledge, and internal discipline to think clearly and logically and then to express themselves effectively. We aim to produce graduates who speak articulately, pursue truth, live virtuously, and practice great love for God and neighbor.
“The child is the beauty of God present in the world, that greatest gift to a family.”
Grades K-4
“What was wonderful about childhood is that anything in it was a wonder. It was not merely a world full of miracles; it was a miraculous world.”
- G.K. Chesterton
Our early curriculum focuses on inspiring wonder, building executive function and social skills, memorization and recitation of poetry, and acquisition of the foundations of learning: phonics, reading, geography, mathematical facts, historical facts, and more. Early catechesis introduces children to God’s love for us, the life and death of Jesus Christ, Mary and the saints, prayer and the Sacraments.
Grades 5-8
“All human beings desire to know, and truth is the proper object of this desire.”
- Pope John Paul II
Once students have acquired a strong foundation in literacy and mathematics, they acquire more advanced knowledge in history, Latin, science and literature. They begin to apply logic and reason, draw conclusions, make hypotheses and abstract concepts. Religion classes continue to initiate students into Christian life by deepening their understanding of the Catholic Faith, the Sacraments, virtue and moral teachings, and strengthening their prayer lives. Experiences in the arts, drama, music, and poetry round out the program.
Additional Information
Padre Pio Academy does not participate in Common Core.
All subjects are taught from a Catholic perspective.
At Padre Pio Academy we take seriously the formation of our students intellectually, spiritually, and culturally in the Catholic tradition. We aim to do this at the service of the universal call to holiness and to develop disciples of Jesus Christ. Padre Pio Academy does all this in fidelity to the Sacred Scriptures, Tradition, and the Catholic Church's Magisterium.
Technology
Much has been written about the damaging effects too much screen time can cause for children: shorter attention spans, sleep disorders, decreased cognitive skills, increased anxiety, depression and more. As a classical academy, our primary media is the printed book. We emphasize reading, writing and face-to-face, human interaction. Grade school students are not assigned individual devices such as tablets or laptops; we prefer to use paper and pens, and to teach cursive which helps increase brain connectivity, learning and memory.
We appreciate the brilliant technologies that can be utilized to enhance learning, aid instruction, and deepen a sense of awe and wonder in our students. Therefore, we proceed with great intentionality in discerning the limited and appropriate use of modern media in our school and in our classrooms.
Become a Part of Something Beautiful
Every family that entrusts their child to Padre Pio Academy bestows upon us the great honor of educating and forming them. We honor that trust by imparting the type of education that understands children are innocent and precious. Our educational philosophy places the highest importance on teaching goodness, wisdom and virtue, and love for God and neighbor. Please reach out to set up a visit and tour here.
