If there's one thing that a typical school day at a classical Christian school should not be, it's boring. That's because classical Christian school teachers and administrators not only find and impart great joy and passion in the subjects they're teaching (and the awesome God who created them all!), but also because this education model lends itself to such creative ideas and ways of learning.

Emily Fischer, our fourth grade teacher, has been embodying this type of creativity in her classroom for many years, and has helped guide and inspire many other teachers to do likewise. It's not uncommon to walk by her classroom and smell smoke, hear power tools, or see costumed kids wielding weapons...and know that it's all part of the plan and going just fine!

Emily joins her husband, Veritas Head of School Ty Fischer, on this episode to give listeners a glimpse into this wholly different, beautiful, joyful way of learning that is classical Christian education, especially as it relates to Grammar School.

This conversation will help you see one more way that Veritas is likely quite different from any other school you've encountered, and perhaps even inspire you to aim for creative, outside-the-box, or even slightly risky traditions that will help your child mature as the young man or women God is designing them to be.

In the midst of it, you'll get a tour through our fourth grade year, a thrilling journey through the Medieval, Renaissance, and Reformation time periods peppered with castles, swords, exciting field trips, memorable moments, and (of course) lots of fire.

In this episode - our final episode of 2024 - Ty Fischer talks with Pastor Robert Godfrey (Zeltenreich Reformed Church) and his wife Catherine about how we as Christian parents can cultivate our children's prayer and devotional lives by fostering a culture of family prayer and devotions in our home. The conversation touches on not only practical tips for parents to get on the right track, but also precious spiritual truths and encouragement no matter what age our children are - that we have a loving, altogether wonderful heavenly Father who is a good God, worthy of worship, and who inclines his ear to his children when they come to him in prayer.

We realize that not every child is going to grow up to be a world class musician or standout singer. Or even be inclined to join their church's choir and go to the symphony every weekend. However, we wholeheartedly believe in music's important place in a child's education - both learning to make good music and learning to appreciate good music. Throughout history, the free societies of the world have valued music education, and for good reason.

As we approach our anticipated Christmas Concerts (and Christmas caroling season, of course) this is an excellent time to listen to a conversation with our three music teachers - Sarah Smith (K-2nd grade music), Lindsey Stauffer (upper grammar and secondary music and choir director) and Jennifer Petry (orchestra director) - about why music education enriches a student for life in their future families, churches, and communities at large.

Links for Further Listening

Here are links to some of the music pieces mentioned in this episode, for your family's further listening enjoyment:

• ⁠Vivaldi Four Seasons⁠
• ⁠Haydn Surprise Symphony⁠
• ⁠Bach Toccata and Fugue in d minor⁠
• ⁠Berlioz Symphony Fantastique 5th movement

We're one quarter of the way into the school year, and maybe you're finding your child is struggling with a subject. Or, perhaps you're just an intentional parent who wants to do what you can to help your child thrive academically. Or, maybe you're thinking you would like to have your child attend Veritas, but you're concerned the academics would be too challenging.

Whatever the case may be, you will enjoy this discussion with the Veritas Learning Support Team - Christine Hertzog, Deb Bentley, and Sandy Olcott - who give insights into the tools and methods they use to help kids grasp course material, things they've seen well-meaning parents do that can hinder kids' academic progress, and hope and encouragement pointing us to the real purpose of education (hint: it's not grades).

Our guest is Dr. Walt Mueller of the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding. Walt will be visiting Veritas Academy on the evening of November 19th to present his "Youth Culture 101" seminar, giving parents insight on the major cultural forces influencing today's kids and providing practical, hope-filled, Biblical perspectives on how to guide our kids through the noise that surrounds them and keep them pointed to Christ. (Click here to register for this event)

In this episode, Walt brings his experience and expertise to a discussion on how Christian parents can connect with and guide their kids in truth and light through a complicated, anxiety-ridden culture. Together with our host Ty Fischer, they cover things like:

• Stress and anxiety in our kids
• Handing technology
• Common mistakes well-meaning parents can make
• Keeping the conversation lines open with your kids
• And more.

For more information on Walt's ministry, visit cpyu.org.

In an election season such as we find ourselves presently, it seems we are inundated with political messages and noise - and much of it can feel frustrating and hopeless as we watch candidates batter one another with meaningless words and even outright falsehoods, and wade through the barrage of sound bytes, video shorts, pithy headlines, and Tic Toks to find something of real substance.

In Classical Christian education, Rhetoric is the final stage of learning, preparing a generation of students to take their place as the next citizens, voters, and leaders of our nation. If the art of Rhetoric is "a good man speaking well," then we can agree that more excellent rhetoricians is what our nation could use.

In this episode, Ty Fischer talks with the Hon. Gordon Denlinger, former PA State Representative and current Deputy Auditor General, and Veritas Dean of Students and Rhetoric teacher Graham Dennis. They discuss the political climate of this charged election season - and the many that have preceded it over the centuries - and what discerning parents and young people need to keep in mind if we are going to rise above the denigration and noise and speak Christ's truth and light well to a darkening culture.

If you're part of Veritas Academy - or another classical Christian school - you may not be aware that you're part of a burgeoning movement that is impacting families and communities all over the world.

Tim Dernlan, Vice President of the Association of Classical Christian Schools, joins Ty Fischer in this first episode of Cultivate Season 4 to give listeners a view from the heights. Whether your family is already involved in a classical Christian school, or you're exploring school options for your children and considering classical education, you will be amazed and inspired to hear how the classical Christian education as we know it grew from humble roots to a worldwide movement of bold and passionate parents, church leaders, and educators seeking to train up a virtuous and courageous generation that will impact the world for Christ.

With the start of school just around the corner, academic endeavors are beginning to bubble to the forefront of our minds and schedules. This episode, originally released in April 2023, will inspire your family for this upcoming school year by showing how pursuing excellence in learning and education can and should deepen our (and our children's) faith and bolster our devotion to God.

When did a dichotomy become assumed between academic excellence and Christian devotion? Over time, a mindset has developed that seems to tell us that these two traits can't coexist; that striving for one will compromise the other in our lives.

The Veritas Dean of Math and Science, Rhonda Forbes, talks with our host Ty Fischer about why she sees these two worthwhile objectives - academic excellence and Christian devotion - in our lives as being complimentary to one another and even, in fact, informing each other. Parents should not feel like they have to choose between the two, or that by striving to cultivate one in their child's heart they will rob the other from flourishing. On the contrary, Rhonda will pull back the curtain to show you how, as a Christian, striving for academic excellence can and should deepen our wonder and love for God...and how a deep love for God can result in a desire for greater learning, knowledge of His ways and creation, and excellence in all we do.

Rhonda Forbes, who was an engineer before embarking on her teaching career at Veritas years ago, teaches both upper school math and Great Books (Omnibus) courses deftly. She and her husband Scott have four grown children, all of whom graduated from Veritas Academy.