Academics | Redeemer Classical

Academics at Redeemer

Redeemer's education aims to form students into learners and lovers of God who see everything in relation to the excellencies of the Lord Jesus Christ. A Redeemer education will be marked by being:

Rooted in the Scriptures (2 Tim 3:16)
Joyfully treasuring Christ as our highest aim (Matt 13:44)
Equipped for a God-centered worldview (2 Cor 4:5-6)
The Trivium as a training tool for discernment (Prov 16:21)
Academic rigor within a gracious environment (1 Cor 9:26-27)
Virtue formation for faithful living (Prov 16:16)
Depth and mastery over breadth and exposure (Dan 2:20-23)
Advancing God’s Kingdom in the world (Phil 2:9-11)
Limited and dependent upon God (Rom 11:33-36)

Why Classical Education?

Our unique educational model is built on two foundational elements: a Classical approach to education and a Christ-centered foundation for learning. Classical Christian education cultivates virtue, wisdom, and eloquence by nourishing the soul on truth, goodness, and beauty. We believe that education shapes our heart's loves, sharpens our mind's discernment, and fills our mouths and lives with praise to our Creator and Redeemer.

Foundational Truths & Enduring Traditions. A classical education is based on great ideas, great books (including primary sources when possible), foundational truths and principles, and enduring traditions and skills.

Educating the Whole Person. We educate the whole person (body, mind, and spirit) and therefore equip students with deep theology and excellent academics for all of life, no matter the vocation to which a student is called (1 Cor 10:31).

Rooted in the Trivium. Classical learning is rooted in the Trivium; that is, grammar, logic, and rhetoric. These are not stages of development but thinking skills that students must engage to deeply understand a subject. When we learn any new subject, skill, or discipline, we approach it through grammar, logic, and rhetoric thinking so that we move from the concrete to the philosophical. The Trivium allows us to teach the individual student how to think, meeting them where they are, unconstrained by their age. The Trivium also harmonizes with the biblical concepts of knowledge, understanding, and wisdom.

Language

Language was infused into Creation by God and thereby allows us to understand Him more. Language helps us communicate clearly and is a powerful tool for conveying truth, goodness, and beauty. English grammatical skills in the early years, followed by Latin grammatical skills, build the foundation of the logic necessary for deep comprehension of ideas. The eventual output is written and oral rhetoric. Latin is an excellent tool to develop our understanding of the construct of words while improving our English language, or any other language a student pursues.
Science

Science is the study of all things created for the purpose of knowing the Creator more fully. We build our scientific skill through experimentation and observation to rightly know and understand God’s design. We pursue truth relentlessly without fear of conflict between God’s Word and our discovery. The scientific skills practiced allow students the opportunity to test and discern what is true, and to apply it to all we know and do for the glory of God.
Math

God is a God of order; mathematics reveals that order. Rightly studied, it lays a foundation for more complex thought about God and the world in its revelation of the abstract and the concrete. Students should see math all around them, throughout creation. Thus, math can be enjoyable to students, and allow it to become a beloved subject. As a reflection of God's order, mathematics provides a foundation for the sciences and the arts. This understanding, coupled with mastery, provides students the opportunity to discover the beauty of math in every other subject.
Art

Through the study of art we acknowledge God as the artistic Creator and have a window to observe other times and cultures. God made us in His image and gave us the resources, desires, and abilities to create. People mirror God in creating and discerning that which is beautiful. Students are challenged, through artistic expression, to imitate God’s creation so they may better bring glory and honor to the Creator.
Music

Music is a language, full of beautiful emotions, communicating the unspoken and reaching the soul. We aim for students to learn this beautiful language and to appreciate its intrinsic components. Music, at its core, consists of numbers and intervals, frequencies and sound waves, all working together to create rhythm, harmony, and balance. Therefore, music theory is a necessary part of understanding the concrete and the nuance. Our aim is to condition our bodies, souls, and minds towards Christ Jesus.
Bible

We seek to teach the Word of God diligently to the students of Redeemer, to talk of it when we sit in our classrooms, and when we walk through our hallways, and when we enter the building, and when we depart. We want our students to be Biblically fluent, that they might take every thought captive to the Word of God, and learn to rightly divide the Word of truth. We want students to see their story in God’s story. At all times, students and teachers will treat the Bible as God-breathed, inerrant, and in all things pointing to Christ. Our view of Scripture is consistent with the definitions revealed in Chapter 1 of both the Westminster Confession of Faith and the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith.
Humanities

Humanities is the study of people (individuals and groups) and their collective thoughts and opinions throughout time. We study by looking at the hearts and actions of people, how they interact with each other, and their purposeful intentions. At Redeemer, we will observe humanities in every field of study, seeking to understand man’s intention and see God’s sovereignty.
Literature

Literature provides the opportunity to recognize the human condition through the power of story, and understand our role in God’s grand story. We do this by studying fiction, non-fiction, and source texts. In literature we are given a unique vantage from an omniscient perspective in the lives of the characters–through the eyes of the author. Reading also provides a position of innocence while giving opportunity for discernment through the tensions of life and God’s authorship of redemption. Through literature we are able to train skills of discernment and wisdom. All chosen literature will have an intentional purpose to develop a God-centered perspective in all things.
History

History reveals the pattern of human behavior and witnesses to the truth of God’s Word and his gospel. Students are challenged to build a thorough knowledge of the past, informed by original sources, in order to discern how to live faithfully in the present. The study of history shows mankind’s need for a Savior and God’s faithfulness to redeem and transform those who trust in His promises, which are ultimately fulfilled in Christ.

Curriculum

A distinctive feature of Redeemer is that our teachers will be Living Curriculum and the material used (curriculum) is the spine that will inform our teaching content. With this in mind, for math we will be using Singapore Primary for our lower primary grades and will then progress to Principles of Math through the early secondary years. We will dive into Harold Jacobs Algebra and Geometry in High School.

For our Humanities integrated course we will use Mystery of History as a spine and then use carefully selected literature that coincides with ideas, themes, and periods of time related to our annual history cycle.

For science we will be using Berean Builders as a spine and building out various projects and labs that coincide with the objectives. As we move into secondary we will use Novare Science material to hone scientific skill and critical thinking towards scientific ideas.

Most importantly we will infuse all that we do with Scripture while also taking a thematic approach in Chapel using the Westminster, Baptist, and New City Catechisms.

Interested in Teaching?

Redeemer Classical is seeking teachers who are interested in nurturing students in the admonition of the Lord through gospel-centric education. After submitting a Faculty Inquiry, the next steps are to complete a formal Faculty Application, a teaching audition (either in person or online), and an interview. You can review the faculty job description here.

In addition to subscribing to Redeemer’s Statement of Faith, all administration and staff (Board members, administrative staff, and teachers) must subscribe to either the Westminster Confession of Faith or the The 1689 Baptist Confession. Their subscription must be either by written statement or by oral testimony before the Board. Please click the link below to begin the application process.

Faculty Inquiry