Welcome from the Headmaster

Dear Prospective Families,

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about Chesterton Academy of St. Francis of Assisi.

Choosing a high school is about far more than choosing a place where a young person will spend the next four years. It is, in a real sense, choosing the questions your son or daughter will learn to ask, choosing the ideals they will learn to love and pursue, choosing the people whose voices will shape them, and choosing the kind of person they will be encouraged to become.

At the heart of our school is a conviction that is both ancient and, in our own time, increasingly countercultural: the world is worth knowing because it was made by God, and the human person is worth forming because we were made for God.

For this reason, the Catholic Faith is not merely an addition to education. It is the foundation that gives education its proper purpose. Our students begin each day with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. They study the great works of Western civilization under the light of the Catholic tradition. They encounter philosophy and theology not as subjects separated from "real life," but as essential questions about reality, human nature, morality, and God. Through the frequent practice of Socratic dialogue, teachers guide students in learning to ask why, in reasoning carefully, in speaking thoughtfully, and in seeking what is true rather than simply what is popular or convenient.

Our rigorous classical curriculum is taught by an elite faculty whose preparation reflects the seriousness of the education we seek to provide. More than instructors, our teachers understand themselves as participating in the formation of the young people entrusted to their care. Because our school is intentionally small, no student is lost in the crowd, and every student is individually cherished. Whether in the classroom or through the fellowship and spirited competition of our house system, students grow together in friendship, and the habits of virtue have room to take root.

Choosing a high school is one of the most consequential decisions a family can make, and we do not take lightly the trust that families place in us. We hope that as you explore Chesterton Academy of St. Francis of Assisi, you will come to see not merely a different kind of school, but a different vision of what education can be. If that vision resonates with your family, we invite you to come and visit us. Meet our faculty. Visit our classrooms. Ask questions. Attend Mass with us. See for yourself what we are building here in New Britain. We would be honored to welcome you.

May God bless you as you discern the path He has prepared for you and your family.

Most sincerely in Christ,

Andrew J. Blaski, Ph.D.

Headmaster | Chesterton Academy of St. Francis of Assisi