by Headmaster Matthew Barnett
Saint Basil Academy is a school that is full of life. The small intimate setting is a place where students come alive, learn, grow and carry these treasures on with them as life inexorably carries them along. Rapidly we are approaching the end of our fourth year in operation. Students who started with us as Kindergartners striving to unlock the hidden secrets of books return as third graders, eagerly devouring new Latin words, exploring the wonders of space, and writing cohesive and fluid papers. By the time these students graduate from 8th grade, they will have become accomplished scholars who have tackled the complexities of ancient and modern history, wrestled with freshmen level algebra and seen the links between the ancient Latin language and modern Spanish.
Students at this school have something special. They are known and loved by each other, and by the staff and the parents who generously contribute their time. Saint Basil Academy is a safe place where students grow closer as they share the common experiences in the classroom and on the playing field. Having the same students several years in succession enables the staff to know their students’ needs in a way that would be impossible in most other settings.
In numerous ways, I am moved to thankfulness for the opportunity to serve in this blessed organization. This year is my first in instructing (or studying for that matter) Latin. What a treat it has been! The older students and I are currently working our way through early 20th century history. After our history books have been put aside, the students engross themselves in George Orwell’s classic allegorical tale, Animal Farm. It is delightful to see their eyes lighten up as these simple barnyard animals illustrate the nature of communism as no textbook could.
As the day grows long, I venture out into our new play field. Many parents and friends of the academy worked long hours this summer installing a lawn and erecting a fence for the children. The students and I have spent many recesses enjoying those labors as we traipse up and down the field chasing and being chased, looking for the long pass, or the unguarded flag. Thus ends a day full of life at Saint Basil Academy.
