Foundations of Curriculum

We strive to provide a Christian environment where all students can discover and explore their God-given talents and gifts, where they will make life-long friendships, and where they will be discipled and challenged in their walk with the Lord Jesus Christ.  CFCS is a comprehensive program that utilizes a variety of classical approaches to learning and instruction. Those approaches lead to a strong college preparatory curriculum in high school. The K-12 program also utilizes competitive sports programs and a significant emphasis on fine arts in order to accomplish its mission and ministry purposes.  

Values

Truth - We believe there is no neutral viewpoint from which we can arrive at truth in all subject disciplines. Therefore, we are committed to seeking God’s perspective in presenting these disciplines to our covenant students.

Beauty - We are committed to exposing our students to the best in our cultural heritage in terms of art, literature, and music, knowing they cannot only be taught to appreciate the classical standard of beauty, but also led to emulate it in their own creativity.

Goodness - We teach the timeless ethical standards of Scripture. We expose our students to the critical moral processes of correction, reproof, repentance, confession, reconciliation and forgiveness.

Atmosphere

  • A literacy that comes from being immersed in “living books”.
  • An appreciation for the best in culture from being nurtured in great art and music.
  • A predilection for wholesomeness which comes from participating in a culture which honors God; the contents of our studies, and our emphasis on the development of character.
  • A proper orientation toward the Creator through an emphasis on nature studies on the Cornerstone campus and lab sciences on the Pusch Ridge campus.

Discipline

  • The recognition of the real benefits of studious habits by extolling the learning as the true reward as opposed to artificially contrived behavioral rewards.
  • The development of skills through a participatory curriculum emphasizing narration, recitation, creativity and resourcefulness.
  • Affording abundant challenges through a wide variety of stimulating extra-curricular activities including academic competitions, athletic competitions and fine art programs.
  • A disciplined emphasis on the “habits of the heart” which are essential to life success and spiritual formation.

A Life

  • An understanding that this life is temporary and that eternal life is our true destiny.
  • A model for Christian living and future leadership which is born in the covenant community of their school days.
  • A zest for lifelong learning which is fostered by the role modeling of dedicated teachers and parents.
  • An expectation that their learning has immediate application in real life by not treating them as future people, but as real people right now.

A Science of Relations

  • The development of integrated lessons.
  • An emphasis on variety in the curriculum.
  • The use of history as the broad, unifying theme so that students connect new knowledge with already formed concepts as they are introduced chronologically in the curriculum.
  • An emphasis on living in reconciliation as a model for scripture-based relationships for all individuals and groups here on earth.


Cornerstone Overview: Grades Kindergarten through Sixth

In our classically influenced, Charlotte Mason-informed elementary program, we strive to integrate the content areas rather than treat them as separate subject matter. When Christian schools speak of integration, we are often talking about the infusion of Biblical wisdom into all the subject areas we teach. Although we do have distinct Bible classes, we reference scriptural facts and principles in every academic area. Integrated learning is also about relationships, or connections, between the traditional academic disciplines. Paraphrasing nineteenth century British educator, Miss Charlotte Mason, our founding headmaster Dr. Beckman once wrote, “…we mean that the child has been born in a natural relationship with many things: people, God, objects, animals, nature, etc. Learning then becomes the art (and science) of making connections among those things that have meaning - whether in literature, mathematics, writing, music, or art, to name several.” A great example of subject matter and Biblical integration would be our Shakespeare Festival, which integrates Biblical themes of good and evil in a Christian cultural context with literary devices, historical allusions, visual art in both costuming and stage décor, period background music, and oratorical skills stagecraft.


Pusch Ridge Overview: Grades Sixth through Twelfth

Pusch Ridge desires students to be engaged consistently in the learning process. History, taught from a Biblical worldview, provides the backbone of the Middle School curriculum. This is the story of man’s progression from a beginning point to a final ending point as directed by Almighty God. Within each time period of history, great ideas, people, works of art, music, science, mathematics, and literature will be researched and discovered. Our goal is to introduce the student to an abundance of true thoughts from a variety of great minds. These great thoughts will guide the individual learner in the development of his/her personal character. In class sizes of approximately 20 students, teachers work closely with students, developing relationships that create close fellowship as well as stimulating the learning environment.

Students thrive as a result of the High School’s comprehensive, college preparatory curriculum with classical emphasis. Students take advantage of the wide range of offerings in the academic program, athletics, and extracurricular activities. The academic program builds in students a fundamental body of knowledge, coupled with a Biblical worldview that trains young people in critical thinking, and the discovery of their gifts. They are prepared to make a difference in the world for God’s kingdom. Classes of 15-25 students allows the school to challenge students in their thinking, develop close relationships, disciple the student’s faith, and encourage them as they grow in their knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. The core curriculum consists of courses in English, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, Bible and Foreign Languages. Honors and Advance Placement courses challenge students who can work at an accelerated pace. 

 

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