Golden View art teacher painting of blue colors

Thank you Mr. Stephenson for sharing this painting!

April at Golden View

A LETTER FROM THE PRINCIPAL

April 2023

Dear Friend of Golden View Classical Academy,

I’m reading a good book on the power of stories, not just that we are “moved” by them or “delight” in them, but that stories are perceived at a level that organizes information. It means that we use stories of various kinds - religious, literary, cultural, political - to provide a framework for what we learn, to categorize new information. If we were to state it sharply, we’d say that the human being is the animal that organizes and perceives the world through stories that shape even what we see or attend to.

The consequences of this thesis are immense. It means that we do not approach what is unknown to us with a simply rational or logical lens. We don’t just sit down and learn information. Rather, we approach something new, which could be scary or exhilarating, with a story, perhaps a story of how we encountered something similar in the past, or how others encountered it in the past, or a story that tells us what a hero would do. The best stories help us with the widest range of potentially unknown things, or help with acute and powerful new things, like death, grief, and love.

This is all to say that it matters a great deal what books our children read, and what books we read. Or what they watch. The content matters, and you could probably define a “classic” work by saying “the kind of work that equips us to address and act in the presence of the unknown.” But we could even say the same thing about the “stories” we enact for our children and students. How do we act in the presence of others, and what does that teach young people about how they should act? Are our marriages, friendships, professional conversations, and other associations a kind of story we’d like our children to have as they approach an unknown world and try to make sense of it? Goodness knows we don’t live up to our own ideals in some or all of these, but if we are committed to “classical” education, then we’re committed to taking this question seriously, and answering it seriously, for ourselves.

More than that, we want our own answers to help our children and students. Golden View is such a place - where we take stories seriously - not just in literature and history, but in our own actions. We don’t always get it right, but when we don't, we try to fix it. And even there, there’s a story for children to learn.

Sincerely,

Dr. Garrow

Principal, Golden View Classical Academy

CURRICULUM HIGHLIGHT

This Spring, Golden View 7th grade students have been immersed in a world of literary drama. Recently, they enjoyed William Shakespeare's comedy, A Midsummer Night's Dream. This was by no means their first encounter with Shakespeare, but it was the first time they read one of the Bard's plays entirely in the original text. They read aloud as a class, often amused by the confusion among the lovers, and the foolishness of the bumbling tradesmen. After completing the reading, many students chose to write about the notion that "Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, and therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.” The students discovered, contemplated, and debated the theme of irrational love which recurs throughout the story.

As the school-year end approaches, students are enjoying Edmond Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac. They are spending time considering and discussing Cyrano, the proud, swashbuckling hero who is capable of defeating one hundred men by himself, but whose courage fails him in the face of one, beautiful woman - Roxane. As they approach the end of the play, they will commemorate this story with a traditional French celebration in one of Golden View’s many annual Anchor Feasts.

From Mrs. Gilmore, Upper School Literature Teacher at Golden View

ATHLETIC HIGHLIGHT

Spring has arrived at Golden View Classical Academy, which means it's time for track season! The (sometimes) warmer weather provides the perfect opportunity for high school and middle school students alike to get outside and start running. For 7th and 8th graders, our track program at GVCA is a great way to explore and develop their running abilities. Many of these students are competing for the first time, so our coaches focus on helping them build their running knowledge in addition to strengthening their physical training.

At GVCA, we believe that running is more than just a sport - it's a discipline that teaches valuable life skills. Through our track program, students learn the importance of perseverance, resilience, and goal setting. In addition to the physical and mental benefits of running, our middle school athletes also learn important social skills such as effective communication, teamwork, and how to handle both success and failure with grace. Participation in sports is a valuable part of a well-rounded education, and our track program is just one of the many ways for our students to develop a lifelong love of fitness and healthy living.

Springtime at Golden View means more than just warmer weather and track season. It's an opportunity for our students to develop their physical, mental, and social skills through running. We are proud of our student athletes and look forward to seeing them grow and succeed both on and off the track.

From Mr. Shoup, Upper School Mathematics Teacher, Middle School Cross Country and Track Coach

NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

Apply for Enrollment

We are still accepting applications for the 2023-2024 school year. All interested families can fill out an application on our website! We will continue to send out offers as seats become available through the end of September 2023.

Board Meeting

The May Board Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 17th at 5:30pm in the Bailey Heritage Library. You can find meeting agendas on BoardDocs prior to the meeting.

Thank You to our Law Enforcement Partners!

Golden View Classical Academy would like to express our gratitude with a Police Appreciation Breakfast on Wednesday, May 17th from 7:45-8:45am. All law enforcement officers are invited to join us!