Acta Equitum – January 2023

January 2023

Acta Equitum The Newsletter of Franklin Classical School

FCS families enjoy a hayride at Pinewood Christmas Tree Farm

The Character of the Founders

by Dr. George Grant

Our country’s founding fathers were largely classically and Christianly educated. They spent a lifetime reading and learning. They understood that graduation is not an ending place. It is a beginning, a deposit. You never come to the end of learning. The lessons never end, so the founders were committed to covenantal succession across the generations, and as a result, they built schools and libraries as arsenals of truth. They looked at the past to guide them to the future.

They knew true education at heart is an act of repentance. We must confess that we don’t know everything we should know, and we must walk through life as a people who are reformed and ever reforming.

Classical Education is based on a system of 3 stages called the trivium. These stages follow the categories in the book of Proverbs. Proverbs tell us there’s progress from knowledge to understanding to wisdom. Knowledge is just the bits and pieces of any discipline, knowing your ABC’s, addition and subtraction, and bits of data. Some people have a lot of knowledge, but that doesn’t mean you can effect real change.

You have to add understanding.

Understanding begins to make connections and use critical thinking as well as abstract reasoning. It’s not just the ABC’s we need to learn, but how to construct beautiful sentences that tell a story and enable others to see.

Yet some people have knowledge and understanding, but they don’t use it for anything.

Making progress, making a difference, changing the world requires wisdom. The Hebrew word for wisdom means “skillful fingers.” It’s the skill of a craftsman. It’s the practical application and the ability to exercise discernment. As Charles Spurgeon said, “Discernment isn’t knowing the difference between right and wrong but knowing the difference between right and almost right.” This is where the work of reformation takes place, where wisdom is applied to the problems of culture.

The founders were people of wisdom, and they were committed to a life of piety built on 3 pillars: faith, family, and work. They understood that theology isn’t just determining what doctrines should be believed in a church. What you believe is right or wrong, good or evil, shapes your entire worldview and life and equips you for a life of reformation. Reformation interacts with culture and maintains a balance between urgency and patience, so reformation is a long obedience in the same direction.

This worldview, so rare in our day, enabled the founders to carve out a new civilization that would be a light to the world. That type of character gave us our civilization, and without that kind of character, our civilization cannot continue to stand. Thankfully, every generation has yet a remnant who understands we can run counter to the prevailing ideas of the culture we live in because there is a wisdom from above, communicated to us in Scripture.

Upcoming Events January 2 2023 – 2024 Financial Aid applications open January 3 Classes Resume K – 12th grade 7th – 12th grade presentation attire required January 12 Sixth Grade Parents' Meeting LD Lecture Hall - 6:30 pm

February 1 Late Reenrollment; fee increase February 7 & 8 Teacher Appreciation Days February 16 FCS & TCS Open House FCS auditorium - 7:00 pm February 20 Presidents' Day Classes dismissed; offices closed

January 13 PTO Parents' Painting Party January 16 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Observed Classes dismissed; offices closed January 17 2023 – 2024 Advising appointments open (rising 7th – 12th grade) January 20 Night of the Arts FCS Auditorium 6:00 – 8:00 pm

Year at a Glance January 3 Classes resume January 16 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day classes dismissed; offices closed February 20 Presidents' Day classes dismissed; offices closed March 13 – 17 Spring Break – offices closed May 20 Class of 2023 Graduation

January 31 2023 – 2024 Sibling applications deadline 2023 – 2024 Reenrollment deadline

Updated 2022 – 2023 Calendar available in RenWeb/FACTS – Resource Documents

Announcements Reenrollment and Sibling Application Deadlines Reminder: Reenrollment and Sibling applications are due by January 31, 2023. Beginning February 1st, reenrollment fees will increase to $385 per student, and seats will not be guaranteed.

To Reenroll: Go to your Family Portal in RenWeb/FACTS Click on Apply/Reenroll on the left-side dropdown Click on Enrollment/Reenrollment Click on Click here to open Enrollment Click on Start Enrollment Packet

Sixth Grade Parent Meeting Sixth Grade Parents: Please plan to attend an important meeting to learn about the transition from Grammar School to Lower Division. Mrs. Cruise and Ms. Floit will walk you through the advising process and operations of the Lower Division. If you have never had a student in Lower Division, we ask you to join us.

Thursday, January 13th 6:30 pm LD Lecture Hall FCS Second Floor

Announcements Spelling Bee Congratulations to Avie Kendrick for winning the FCS Lower Division Spelling Bee! She now qualifies for the Middle Tennessee Regional Spelling Bee, sponsored by the Tennessee Titans, in February or March 2023. The winner of the Regional bee goes on to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, DC in May 2023.

Jeremiah Avila and Olivia Kendrick tied in the Grammar School Spelling Bee after 25 rounds.

They then participated in the online test, and Olivia is the FCS champion. Congratulations, Olivia and Jeremiah!

Night of the Arts You are invited to join the Junior Class for a fun-filled night of music, singing, and more!

The Night of the Arts will take place on the evening of Friday, January 20th at 6:00 – 8:00 pm in the FCS auditorium.

Please join us to enjoy these special student performances and support the Junior Class!

Cost: Adults – $10 Students – $8 Performers – no cost

Parents in Prayer Parents in Prayer will continue to meet the second and fourth Friday of each month through the end of April. January meetings are as follows: 1.13 Duggan home 10:00 – 11:00 1.27 FCS second floor 10:00 – 11:00 Duggan home address: 435 Mackenzie Way, Franklin Questions may be directed to: Dana Duggan PTO Prayer & Community Support (912) 506-7342

Students are welcome to participate individually or in groups. Audition videos may be mailed to benderjillian24@franklinclassical.com on or before January 3, 2023. Those who are accepted into the show will receive an email by Friday, January 6th. There will be a rehearsal in UD Lecture Hall on Thursday, January 19th from 3:00 – 6:00 pm.

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January 1 John Schwieger

January 16 William Lee

January 3 Kate Plachy

January 17 Hunter Hatcher

January 5 Mac Monroe

January 18 Maddox Parkerson Sophia Swann

January 6 Mrs. Michelle Cruise Cailyn Davis Liliana Pfeffer January 7 Vesper Lenox Aeryn Schafer January 10 Noah Elliott Mrs. Angela Raynaud

January 19 Dominic Lupescu January 20 Henry Garland Benjamin Howell January 28 Mrs. Yalaisa Hagopian Mrs. Jaclyn Hatcher January 31

January 15 Lundyn Sadler Abe Schwieger

Chloe Jones