Catholic Liberal Arts Education Resource Page

St. Monica Catholic School, in partnership with parents, will guide students in the pursuit of truth, goodness, and beauty
through tradition centered in Christ to develop evangelists for the world and eternity.

Catholic Liberal Arts Education (CLE - from the Latin, liber, which means free) is ordered to the Truth that sets us free. SMCS is in the process of implementing a classical approach to education. St. Monica aims to nourish its students’ minds & souls in truth, goodness, and beauty and to ensure that our “Catholic identity” extends throughout the school culture, curriculum, and pedagogy, while also adhering to  Diocesan Standards.

A Statement from Mrs. Mandeville, former St. Monica teacher and Catholic Liberal Arts Education Resource Teacher

Catholic Liberal Arts Education focuses on the development of the whole child: mind, body, and soul, through a Christ-centered, integrated approach, in the liberal arts tradition, and in pursuit of truth, beauty, and goodness.

Our lessons begin and end with Christ – the Truth. We strive to achieve our grade-level academic goals by fully teaching whole concepts, whenever possible integrating theology, history, math, science, geography, and the arts, rather than teaching those subjects in isolation. We realize the immense potential of our students from Early Childhood to 8th grade, exposing them to great works of literature and sequential, historical studies ranging from ancient times to current events and government.

Aristotle said, “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” The value we place on teaching the whole child means we recognize our most important job is helping each other and our students reach eternal life in heaven. With that ultimate goal in mind, we instruct, encourage, and guide our students to seek truth, recognize God’s beauty, and strive for goodness in everything they do.

WHAT IS A CATHOLIC LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION?

What is a Catholic Liberal Education? (article)

Conference Aims to Explain the Idea of a Classical Education

Classical Schools put Plato over iPads

 2018 SMCS - Presentation Slides

Sample Third Grade Integrated Lesson - Mr. Beery (video) 

Mr. Beery's 2023 CLE Refresher Presentation Slides

WHY A CATHOLIC LIBERAL EDUCATION?

The Exponential Growth of Classical Christian Education

More Catholic Schools are Making the Switch to Classical Curricula

The Comeback of Classical Education

Common Core Education vs. Classical Education: A Thomistic Approach

Susan Wise Bauer "The Well Trained Mind"

The Mission of the ACCS

A CATHOLIC LIBERAL EDUCATION & STEM

Classical Education - The Best Preparation for STEM

Classical Education and STEM - A Common Misconception

A CATHOLIC LIBERAL EDUCATION BY THE NUMBERS- STATS

Sayers Classical Academy, Louisville, KY

The Association for Classical Christian Schools

LINKS TO SCHOOLS UTILIZING
A CATHOLIC LIBERAL EDUCATION

Our Lady of Lourdes, Denver, Colorado

Chesterton Academy, Minneapolis, MN

St. Monica Academy, Montrose, CA

Sacred Heart Academy, Grand Rapids, MI