Our Motto
Johann Sebastian Bach, one of the most prolific composers of the classical age of music, is said to have signed every composition with the initials "S.D.G.", meaning Soli Deo Gloria. We have adopted that phrase as our motto and motive for all that we do at Grace Academy - Only for God’s Glory!
Our Mission
To glorify God by serving parents in providing their children a distinctly Christ-centered, academically excellent, classical education as a foundation for life-long learning.
Our Philosophy
"I am much afraid that schools will prove to be wide gates to hell unless they diligently labor in explaining the Holy Scriptures, engraving them in the hearts of youth. I advise that no one place his child where the Scriptures do not reign paramount. Every institution in which men are not constantly occupied with the Word of God must become corrupt."
--Martin Luther
Our philosophy is centered on four distinctive foundation stones. It is rooted in strong parental support because we are concerned with the family. It is biblical because we are concerned with truth. It is Christian because we are concerned with behavior. It is classical because we are concerned with effectiveness.
Scripture teaches in Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and Ephesians 6:1-4 that parents are responsible for the education of their children. This education includes teaching the Scriptures, building godly character, training in righteousness and inculcating a Christian culture and worldview. At Grace Academy, we believe that our role is to assist the parent in this process. We are therefore a delegate of the parents. All duties and activities are performed with the clear recognition that whatever authority and responsibility we exercise in the educating process is bestowed upon us by the parents. We welcome and encourage parents to be active participants with their child in the education process both at home and at the school.
We believe God is the author of all truth. All of His creation reflects His power, order and glory. Jesus said "…thy Word is truth" (John 17:17). We affirm that Scripture is the inerrant and authoritative Word of God. It is from Scripture that we derive and confirm truth. In view of this, we approach all other "truth" from the fundamental perspective that the truths of Scripture form the foundation upon which all other learning and investigation of the universe is built. Therefore, we will always endeavor to teach all subjects as parts of an integrated whole with the Scriptures at the center.
A truly "Christian" education is also concerned with behavior. James 1:22 affirms the importance of being "doers of the Word, and not hearers only". We believe right behavior and right thinking is not had simply by the accumulation of the right data. It requires the correct application of the truth (God’s Word and biblical principles) to daily activities. At Grace Academy, we are strongly committed to providing a clear model of biblical Christian living through our staff and board, and to encouraging and training every student in moral and spiritual development.
Finally, we are concerned with effectiveness. Many throughout church history have marveled at the great writings and accomplish-ments of men such as St. Augustine, John Calvin, and Jonathan Edwards. One wonders where such men are today. One reason for their profound influence and accomplishments is the foundational education they received, which was classical in method and content.
The classical teaching model is a time-proven method based on what is referred to as the "Trivium", or a three-pronged approach to each subject. Beginning with the Grammar, the student studies the basic particulars of each subject. Logic (or dialectic) deals with the reasoning, which ties all the various particulars together. It gives one the basis for integrating bodies of knowledge and proving the correct relationships in and between subjects. Rhetoric focuses on the clear and effective expression of facts, ideas, and relationships through written and oral presentations. These three, Grammar, Logic, and Rhetoric, are applied in every discipline.
Classical in content simply means that the foundations for Western civilization will be emphasized in the study of history, philosophy, science, the arts, literature, and language. And central to the study of these disciplines is the study of the orthodox, historical, Protestant Christian faith. This faith provided then, and provides now the foundation for a proper understanding of every other discipline.