ad fontes

The classical curriculum at Trinity Academy aims to orient students ad fontes, “to the sources” themselves—and most importantly, to the Source of all things.

Whether students are attending to original sources directly or learning from the expertise of our teachers, TAC students gain deep insight into the world, as they grow to appreciate biblical truth, important historical and cultural works, and the order and beauty of nature.

An integrated study of these three focal points—God, humanity, and the created world—prepares our students for all their future vocations, including college success, family life, and virtuous citizenship.

Foundational Wisdom

Theology at Trinity Academy addresses the most foundational questions. We are Christ-centered, and students read the bible daily.

Our students learn a biblical understanding of self, world, and neighbor as articulated through the Lutheran Confessions and the Christian ecumenical creeds.

Students learn to consider and to prepare for all of their vocations—as students, as part of a family, as virtuous citizens, as an employee or entrepreneur, and as members of Christ’s body, the church.

Grammar, Logic, Rhetoric

At Trinity Academy, students enjoy the opportunity to authentically reflect on the “best that has been thought and said.” Literature, history, philosophy, and language study are integrated together in a way that cultivates the whole person. Our study of humanity can be understood as a practice of three arts or skills: grammar, logic, and rhetoric.

In our classical pedagogy, the art of grammar means that students study the foundational-level content—the vocabulary, the facts, the figures— needed to think about any particular subject. Our student learn, memorize, and interact with foundational knowledge.

The art of logic means that students learn to make distinctions, ask good questions, and think with clarity and accuracy. Small class sizes mean that TAC students can engage in direct conversation, inquiring and learning from other inquiries.

The art of rhetoric means that students can create and influence, having been rooted in goodness, truth, and beauty. Excellent models of poetry, masterful speeches, beautiful artwork—these all contribute to the creative capacities of our students.

The arts of grammar, logic, and rhetoric are regularly embedded in the classroom, and prepare students with the essential knowledge and self-discipline required for success in college and in their future vocations.

Order and Beauty in Nature

The natural world is a magnificent gift. Today, the study of math and science will often be conducted with merely technical mastery and efficiency in mind. However, through the study of the order of the universe (classically emphasized as the arts of the quadrivium), students better learn how to apply technical abilities, as they first learn to respect God’s design.

Practical wisdom begins with wonder and awe. By first learning to appreciate the order of the world, students are then able to understand how best to serve within their numerous vocations through applied skills and mastery. We believe that the most beneficial study of the natural world prioritizes the capacity for wonder and awe.

Learning music and music theory is emphasized as one of the ways that our students learn to appreciate the world. Through the study of music, we better understand how harmony and beauty reflect God’s design of the universe.