Frequently Asked Questions

MAY I VISIT CAMPUS OR GET A TOUR?

We are currently meeting with families who have auditioned to become part of The Sanctuary Academy homeschool hybrid co-op. Our studio and atrium is being prepared, however, we are available to meet with people at our planned location. 

WHAT GRADES DO YOU OFFER?

We plan to serve learners in the Spark, Elementary, Middle and Launch Pad (high-school) levels as a three-day homeschool hybrid co-op. We have age mixing rather than strict grade levels.  

IS THE SANCTUARY ACADEMY A MONTESSORI SCHOOL?

We respect and incorporate Maria Montessori’s philosophy but, we are not a Montessori school. We also use Catechesis of the Good Shepherd which is a Montessori-based faith formation approach. We also use the latest interactive technologies, hands-on projects, and the Socratic Method for discussions. But we are a three-day homeschool hybrid co-op.

IS THE SANCTUARY ACADEMY A SCHOOL?

No. We have no teachers that impart learning, nor grades, nor homework. We are a "disruptive educational model" that is changing the way learners learn by creating an environment that encourages and stimulates accelerated learning and sharing. Clayton Christensen, Harvard Business School Professor and author of Disruptive Innovation, has written about disruptive education in his book Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns and has a think tank studying disruptive education. The Acton Academy model was named the number one disruptive educational model in the country by the Clayton Christensen Institute, and its learners are on average testing 3 to 5 grade levels ahead of their age group. The Sanctuary Academy is an affiliate of the Acton Academy and the first Catholic expression of the model.  In addition, we are using the Acton model as a learner-driven homeschool hybrid co-operative.

HOW LONG IS THE SANCTUARY ACADEMY IN SESSION EACH YEAR?

We operate on a nine month calendar, but our flexible program allows families to travel together during the year, without sacrificing any learning.

IS THE SANCTUARY ACADEMY RELIGIOUS?

We believe that true "religare" is about supernaturally connecting to God and concretely re-binding ourselves to Him through daily habits that nourish and grow that connection. Without this vital connection to our creator, we are incapable of becoming fully who we are called to be and enter the joy that life offers. As St. Augustine said, “Our hearts are restless untill they rest in you!” In this sense, The Sanctuary Academy is religious in a way that seeks to draw from the deepest roots of Catholicism in a spirit of unity so that Catholics, evangelicals, non-denominationals and people of no faith confession will feel blessed to be part of our community. We do not require that families be Catholic to join our co-operative. We believe that each student is Created by God to have a relationship with Him and bring Him glory. We will bring Him the greatest glory by being who He has created us to be and utilizing our gifts, skills and callings to make the greatest impact in the world. We expose children to the importance of Christianity to the development of Western Civilization through The Way of Beauty. Our approach of faith formation is through the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a Montessori based approach for our learners to discover and dig deep into their faith journey.

WHO WAS LORD ACTON?

Lord John Emerich Edward Dahlberg Acton (1834-1902) was a Victorian scholar of Freedom who saw liberty not as a license to do what one wishes, but as the freedom to do what is right. He was suspicious of power for the sake of power, which led to his most famous quote: "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." At The Sanctuary Academy, we celebrate and model his defense of economic, political and religious freedom. The Sanctuary Academy is deeply informed by a vision of ordered liberty and a vision of the free and virtuous society necessary for a civilization of love. 

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY A HERO'S JOURNEY?

We believe that each of us has a special calling in life, and a series of trials and tests that must be faced with integrity and purpose, in order to live a satisfying and fulfilled life. Our mission is to prepare your child for his or her special journey by amplifying this discovery and growth process that is deeply archetypal and universal. The Hero's Journey is a key process and metaphor that helps awaken the child to the challenge of life as a never ending cycle of growth. 

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY "ANSWER THE CALL. ENTER THE STORY. CHANGE THE WORLD"?

We believe that each person's calling is discovered in relationship with the One who created us in love. When you answer the call that is uniquely on your life, your life becomes a high and beautiful adventure that becomes part of the Great Adventure and adds a chapter to The Story of Salvation History. When we answer the call, and enter the story, we become a World Changer - a person who is on the Hero's Journey on a quest to fulfill their assignment in the Kingdom of God. So whatever that call may be, no matter how visible or invisible that mission is, in answering "yes" the child becomes one who changes the world. 

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY "EVERY CHILD CAN CHANGE THE WORLD"?

We believe each of our students will find a passion — something they love and have a gift to do. They will use this gift to serve others and fulfill a need they are passionate about in the world. This may be by becoming a shoe-shiner who tells stories and makes people's day just by doing his job with love and vigor; it may be by becoming a coach who sees the light in a child’s eyes and guides her to pursue a dream; it may be by becoming a father or mother who leads a family on a Hero's Journey; it may be becoming an entrepreneur or business leader guided by compassion and integrity; or it may be by becoming an artist or writer who brings beauty to people's lives. When a child is able to connect their deep burning desire and ability, with a deep burning need in the world, they will excel in life and make an outstanding contribution. When their contribution is also in response to God's call on their life, they become a World Changer. 

WHAT IS AN "INDEPENDENT LEARNER"?

Someone who can research questions, follow instructions, solve problems—admit that they don't know something and figure out a solution when they hit a roadblock without asking an adult for help — participate in discussions, and strive for mastery. It is someone who knows that it is more important to ask the right questions rather than know the right answers.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY A "RUNNING PARTNER"?

Running Partners are classmates who meet together regularly to set goals and hold each other accountable for meeting those goals. Running Partners encourage and inspire each other by asking good questions, listening and providing affirmation.

WILL CHILDREN BE GROUPED INTO GRADES?

We believe that children learn best when working with children younger and older than themselves rather than split up into groups based solely on age. In addition to individualized curriculum, all ages of students work together in groups.

DOES THE SANCTUARY ACADEMY SERVE SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN?

We are not trained to serve children with serious learning disabilities but we believe that many minor learning disabilities can stem from the form of the education they are in. At the Sanctuary Academy, learning is part of a joy-filled adventure that calls forth the responsible use of freedom.

WHY DO YOU FOCUS ON TEACHING THE "AMERICAN EXPERIMENT"?

We believe patriotism is a category of the virtue of piety, and so we uphold the ideals of the American experiment in ordered liberty as exceptionally significant for the whole of human civilization. We believe that this tradition is important to nourish, renew and perfect through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching's five core teachings: human dignity in the image of God, localism (subsidiarity), familialism (solidarity), the transcendent moral order and the principles of a humane economy. We believe that in addition to experiential learning, we will study the American documents and the true meaning behind them, as we examine other cultures and forms of government.

WHAT IS "THE WAY OF BEAUTY"? 

Beauty is the splendor or the radiance of truth. Beauty is that force that compels us from within to draw near. The Way of Beauty is an approach to unlocking the great mysteries of God and contributions of civilization through the lens of Beauty. It seeks to reveal the unity of all knowledge and the connections all disciplines through beauty and especially through the liturgy. David Clayton, sacred artist, author and Provost of Pontifex.University, is an advisor to The Sanctuary Academy and wrote the book The Way of Beauty. 

IS THE SANCTUARY ACADEMY ACCREDITED?

Yes. The Sanctuary Academy is accredited through the IALDS - The International Association of Learner Driven Schools.